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 JAMES is Professor of Applied Social Studies at the University of Bradford. He has published widely in the field of socio-legal studies, covering a range of areas in both family law and criminal justice studies.