A report examined the state of youth justice in Scotland, and how the Kilbrandon Report (1995) had influenced policy and practice. The report looked at: trends in youth offending patterns over the past ten years; how politics, policy, research, and practice shaped youth justice in post-devolution Scotland; and the influence of values in shaping the current youth justice system. The report made recommendations for practice and policy improvements, including a call to raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 12, for more age appropriate custody facilities, and for expanding the 'whole system approach'.

Source: Claire Lightowler, David Orr, and Nina Vaswani, Youth Justice in Scotland: Fixed in the past or fit for the future?, Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice

Links: Report | Kilbrandon Report | CYCJ press release

Date: 2014-Sep

An article examined the role of the Youth Justice Board for Wales (YJB Cymru) in developing youth justice policy and practice in the partially-devolved context of Wales. It said that YJB Cymru had an increasingly important role in policy and practice development structures and processes in England and Wales, as well as in the Welsh national context specifically, fulfilling a role of 'dual influence' to mediate and manage youth justice tensions in the partially-devolved context.

Source: Stephen Case, 'Strategic complexities and opportunities in Welsh youth justice: exploring YJB Cymru', Safer Communities, Volume 13 Number 3

Links: Abstract

Date: 2014-Jul

The Welsh Government began consultation on proposals contained in their White Paper on the prevention of offending by young people. The proposals for an Assembly bill would focus support on young people who were at the greatest risk of reoffending and progressing further through the youth justice system. It included proposals for more effective resettlement at the end of a sentence, and the establishment of Regional Reintegration and Resettlement Partnerships. The new Partnerships would oversee the links and collaborations between relevant statutory and service provider organizations, to ensure that the needs of young people were identified and met, with resettlement and reintegration plans in place at the end of their sentence. The needs of first time entrants into the youth justice system would be addressed and supported by the new joint Welsh Government/Youth Justice Board Strategy, due to be published in April 2014. The consultation would close on 30 April 2014.

Source: Prevention of Offending by Young People, Welsh Government

Links: White Paper | Related documents

Date: 2014-Feb