ALLISON JAMES is Professor of Sociology at the University of Sheffield and a pioneer in the area of childhood studies. She is author of numerous publications on children and childhood including Constructing and Reconstructing Childhood (Falmer) and Theorizing Childhood (Polity Press). ADRIAN L. JAMES is Professor of Applied Social Studies at the University of Sheffield. He has published widely in the field of socio-legal studies, covering a range of areas in both family law and criminal justice studies.