An article examined the violence which it said was intrinsic to key aspects of youth justice policy and practice in England and Wales. The treatment and conditions endured by child prisoners was tantamount to institutional child abuse.
Source: Barry Goldson, 'Damage, harm and death in child prisons in England and Wales: questions of abuse and accountability', Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, Volume 45 Issue 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Dec
Campaigners criticized the increased use of custody for children. Although a small number of children who committed serious offences needed to be placed in custody in order to protect the public, in most cases the use of custody was an unnecessary, expensive, and ineffective response to their offending behaviour, and could be deeply damaging to children.
Source: Still Waiting for Youth Justice, Standing Committee for Youth Justice, c/o Barnardo s (01268 520224)
Links: Report | SCYJ press release
Date: 2006-Dec
A report examined levels and trends in youth offending, anti-social behaviour, and victimization among young people aged 10-25 living in the general household population in England and Wales. The proportion of young people committing an offence remained stable. The most commonly reported offence categories were assault (committed by 16 per cent) and other thefts (11 per cent). 7 per cent of all young people were classified as frequent offenders.
Source: Debbie Wilson, Clare Sharp and Alison Patterson, Young People and Crime: Findings from the 2005 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey, Statistical Bulletin 17/06, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Bulletin
Date: 2006-Dec
An audit report said that around 65 per cent in a sample of 893 people who received some form of anti-social behaviour intervention did not engage in further anti-social behaviour. But there was a hard core of perpetrators for whom interventions had limited impact: 20 per cent of the people in the sample received 55 per cent of all interventions issued.
Source: Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour, HC 99 (Session 2006-07), National Audit Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | NAO press release | Home Office press release | NCH press release | Nacro press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Dec
A report summarized inspections carried out at youth offender institutions since 2004. Although safety had improved, there were still big variations in the number of young people who felt safe across different sized institutions.
Source: Rachel Worsley, Young People in Custody 2004-2006: An analysis of children s experiences of prison, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales (020 7035 2103) and Youth Justice Board
Links: Report | Childrens Society press release | HLPR press release | NCH press release | Community Care report | Young People Now report
Date: 2006-Dec
A report presented the results of a detailed study of juvenile sexual abusers referred to a specialist child and adolescent mental health service, in order to provide a detailed description of this population. It highlighted the need for specialist services, integrated governmental approaches, and research on treatment efficacy. A linked report provided a baseline of evidence on the needs and effective treatment of young people who displayed sexually abusive behaviour.
Source: Nicole Hickey, Eileen Vizard, Eamon McCrory and Lesley French, Links Between Juvenile Sexually Abusive Behaviour and Emerging Severe Personality Disorder Traits in Childhood, Department of Health (08701 555455) | Nathan Whittle, Susan Bailey and Zarrina Kurtz, The Needs and Effective Treatment of Young People who Sexually Abuse: Current evidence, Home Office (0870 000 1585) and Department of Health
Links: Report | Evidence report
Date: 2006-Nov
A government agency began consultation on a plan designed to promote effective restorative justice practices for young offenders.
Source: Developing Restorative Justice: An action plan, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office (020 7271 3033)
Links: Consultation document | YJB press release
Date: 2006-Nov
A report presented findings from research into adolescent health in the general population, primary care services in relation to young people and adolescent health needs, and healthcare provision in youth offending institutions. It made recommendations about healthcare for adolescents and young people in prison, and identified what further research was needed.
Source: Wendy Macdonald, The Health Needs of Young Offenders, National Primary Care Research and Development Centre (0161 275 0611)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Nov
A report examined the use of foster care as an alternative to custodial or residential accommodation for young people on remand. Over 70 per cent of the young people involved in a project did not commit any offences during their placement, despite persistently offending before.
Source: Jo Lipscombe, Care or Control? Foster care for young people on remand, BAAF Adoption and Fostering (020 7593 2000)
Links: Summary | NCH press release
Date: 2006-Nov
A government agency said that a 'crisis' was facing children and young people in custody, as the numbers of under-18s held in secure accommodation in England and Wales reached a record high. There were 3,322 juveniles in custody, with just 48 empty beds available.
Source: Press release 24 October 2006, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office (020 7271 3033)
Links: YJB press release | Rainer press release | Nacro press release | NCH press release | Crime Concern press release | YMCA press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Young People Now report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Oct
A report examined the impact on children of older siblings being in prison. It recommended an increased awareness among policy-makers and sentencers of the numbers affected by sibling imprisonment, and the detrimental effects on young family members when sending a young person to prison.
Source: Rosie Meek, When Big Brother Goes Inside: The experience of younger siblings of young men in prison, Howard League for Penal Reform (020 7249 7373)
Links: HLPR press release
Date: 2006-Oct
A report made recommendations designed to prevent young people in Scotland from offending and coming into the youth justice system. It said that there was no single solution to reducing offending; a wide range of family, community, and individual approaches was needed.
Source: Report of the Youth Justice Improvement Group: Proposals for action, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SE response | SE press release | Young People Now report
Date: 2006-Oct
The healthcare inspectorate said that mental healthcare provision for young offenders had improved: but primary care trusts were still failing to provide adequate care, making the task of reducing reoffending rates more difficult.
Source: 'Let's talk about it': A review of healthcare in the community for young people who offend, Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (020 7448 9200)
Links: Report | CHAI press release | YJB press release | Nacro press release | Young People Now report | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Oct
A new book examined the evolution of social policy and social institutions in respect of the relationship between education and offending by young people.
Source: Martin Stephenson, Young People and Offending: Education, youth justice and social inclusion, Willan Publishing (01884 840337)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Oct
A report said that the youth justice system should move away from prosecution towards more emphasis on addressing the educational, mental health, and family problems that often lay behind youth offences. The age of criminal responsibility should be raised to 14 years.
Source: Rob Allen, From Punishment to Problem Solving: A new approach to children in trouble, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies/King's College London (020 7848 1688)
Links: Report | CCJS press release | NCH press release | Nacro press release | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Sep
A report said that a scheme designed to keep young people in Northern Ireland out of custody as part of bail proceedings was having a positive impact.
Source: Deloitte MCS Limited, Evaluation of the Bail Supervision and Support Scheme, Northern Ireland Office (028 9052 0700)
Links: Report | NIO press release
Date: 2006-Sep
The probation inspectorate said that some workers in youth offending teams did not 'understand the concept of case management', and in a few cases were 'philosophically opposed' to involving other professionals in a young person s supervision.
Source: Joint Inspection of Youth Offending Teams: Annual Report 2005-2006, HM Chief Inspector of Probation (020 7035 2203)
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Sep
A report said that local authorities were systematically failing to provide suitable accommodation and support for vulnerable children leaving custody, in breach of their statutory duties, and putting the public in danger of further crime.
Source: Chaos, Neglect and Abuse: The duties of local authorities to provide children with suitable accommodation and support services, Howard League for Penal Reform (020 7249 7373)
Links: HLPR press release | LGA press release | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Sep
A report evaluated the Positive Activities for Young People programme (a multi-departmental three-year programme for young people aged 8-19 at risk of social exclusion, and/or of committing or being a victim of community crime). PAYP was viewed by participating agencies as being successful, delivering a targeted programme to a hard-to-engage client group, and in doing so achieving a range of positive outcomes for participating young people.
Source: CRG Research Limited, Positive Activities for Young People: National Evaluation - Final Report, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) and others
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Aug
A new book examined young people s involvement in crime, as both victims and offenders. It suggested the existence of three main groups of adolescent offenders: 'propensity-induced' offenders, 'life-style dependent' offenders, and 'situationally limited' offenders - these groups had different causal backgrounds to their crime involvement, and therefore might warrant different strategies for effective prevention.
Source: Per-Olof Wikstrom and David Butterworth, Adolescent Crime: Individual differences and lifestyles, Willan Publishing (01884 840337)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jul
A new book examined recent developments in the areas of youth justice and child protection. The central focus of the book was on whether society and young people in state care, both in young offenders institutes and foster/care homes, were better served by the dispensation of justice or appropriate family support.
Source: Malcolm Hill, Andrew Lockyer and Fred Stone (eds.), Youth Justice and Child Protection, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jul
A government agency rejected key recommendations of an inquiry (chaired by Lord Carlile) which said that children in custody were regularly subject to "demeaning and dehumanising" treatment. It said that it would not end the use of prison segregation cells and strip searching, although it would "reconsider" whether full searches were necessary in some settings.
Source: A Response to Lord Carlile s Inquiry into Children in Custody, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office (020 7271 3033)
Links: Response | Summary | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Jul
A report examined young people's views of anti-social behaviour. The majority condemned bad behaviour, and fewer than 10 per cent considered they had been responsible for anti-social acts in the previous year: but they felt these facts were not represented accurately in the media.
Source: Lucja Wisniewska, Lucie Harris and Clare Oliver, The Voice Behind the Hood: Young people?s views on antisocial behaviour, the media and older people, British Youth Council (0845 458 1489) and YouthNet
Links: Report | Youthnet press release | Young People Now report
Date: 2006-Jul
A report said that young people who committed non-violent offences should be given tough community-based sentences, rather than being sent to prison. This would cut the young prison population by around 65 per cent, reduce re-offending, and save over 70 million per year.
Source: Children in Trouble, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Report | LGA press release
Date: 2006-Jul
A new book examined the causes of offending in the school context among pupils aged 14-15. It considered the role of schools, family background, neighbourhood, young people's social situation and dispositions, and lifestyles on pupils' offending behaviour.
Source: Stephen Boxford, Schools and the Problem of Crime, Willan Publishing (01884 840337)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jul
The government announced new measures to tackle the root causes of problem behaviour, with proposals to support parents whose children were at risk of drifting into patterns of poor behaviour at an early age. It announced a shortlist of 20 local authorities who would be asked to pilot new targeted support and courses for parents with children and young people at risk of poor behaviour between the ages of 8 and 13.
Source: Speech by Beverley Hughes MP (Minister of State for Children and Families), 19 July 2006
Links: Text of speech | DfES press release
Date: 2006-Jul
The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales published its annual report for 2005-06.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts 2005/06, HC 1388, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jul
Four linked reports were published from a study of youth transitions and crime, which followed a cohort of around 4,300 young people who started secondary schools in Edinburgh in the autumn of 1998. Involvement in delinquent behaviour was associated with living in neighbourhoods that were characterized by higher levels of deprivation. But deprivation at the individual or family level had no significant effect.
Source: Susan McVie and Paul Norris, Neighbourhood Effects on Youth Delinquency and Drug Use, Centre for Law and Society/University of Edinburgh | Susan McVie and Paul Norris, The Effect of Neighbourhoods on Adolescent Property Offending, Centre for Law and Society/University of Edinburgh | David Smith, Social Inclusion and Early Desistance from Crime, Centre for Law and Society/University of Edinburgh | David Smith, School Experience and Delinquency at Ages 13 to 16, Centre for Law and Society/University of Edinburgh (0116 252 5950)
Links: Report 1 | Report 2 | Report 3 | Report 4 | CLS press release | Young People Now report
Date: 2006-Jun
An article said that the mental health needs of young offenders were high, but often unmet. This emphasized the importance of structured needs assessment within custody and community settings, in conjunction with a care programme approach that improved continuity of care.
Source: Prathiba Chitsabesan et al., 'Mental health needs of young offenders in custody and in the community', British Journal of Psychiatry, June 2006
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jun
A report examined the prevalence and nature of under-age drinking and the relationship between alcohol consumption and offending among young people. Those who drank alcohol once per week or more committed a disproportionate volume of crime, accounting for 37 per cent of all offences reported by young people aged 10-17, but only 14 per cent of respondents.
Source: Sian Matthews, Laura Brasnett and Jonathan Smith, Underage Drinking: Findings from the 2004 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey, Research Findings 277, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Findings
Date: 2006-Jun
An article said that young people in the criminal justice system were a significant financial burden not only on that system but also on social services, health, and education. The relationship between cost and depressed mood indicated a role for mental health services in supporting young offenders, particularly those in the community.
Source: Barbara Barrett, Sarah Byford, Prathiba Chitsabesan and Cassandra Kenning, 'Mental health provision for young offenders: service use and cost', British Journal of Psychiatry, June 2006
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jun
A report analyzed the one-year re-offending rates of juveniles (those aged 10-17 at date of sanction or on release from custody). For the baseline cohort (2000), the one-year re-offending rate was 43.3 per cent.
Source: Elizabeth Whiting and Lucy Cuppleditch, Re-offending of Juveniles: Results from the 2004 cohort, Statistical Bulletin 10/06, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Bulletin | Home Office press release | YJB press release | Young People Now report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Jun
A report examined the extent of young people's involvement in ?delinquent youth groups? and the delinquent and criminal behaviour of members of such groups (both individually and as groups) in England and Wales. The factors most strongly associated with group membership were: having friends in trouble with the police; having run away from home; commitment to deviant peers; having been expelled or suspended from school; and being drunk on a frequent basis.
Source: Clare Sharp, Judith Aldridge and Juanjo Medina, Delinquent Youth Groups and Offending Behaviour: Findings from the 2004 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey, Online Report 14/06, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report | Young People Now report
Date: 2006-May
A report summarized the findings from qualitative research with agencies and workers who were either providing, or working in partnership with, 'On Track' services. (On Track is a long-term initiative aimed at children and the families of children aged 4-12 in England and Wales who may be at risk of offending and anti-social behaviour.)
Source: Jenny Graham et al., The National Evaluation of On Track, Phase 2: Qualitative Study of Service Providers? Perspectives, Research Report 754, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2006-May
A report by a government agency said that a programme working with young offenders, helping them to find an appropriate learning or work opportunity, had had positive results. The 'Entry to Employment' (E2E) pilot findings suggested that 48 per cent of young offenders secured an appropriate learning or work situation.
Source: Judith Foster, Asking Further Questions of the Learning Alliance Entry to Employment Pilot, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office (020 7271 3033)
Date: 2006-Apr
A report criticized "draconian measures" aimed at making parents take responsibility for badly-behaved teenagers. It said punitive steps like parenting orders could make matters worse.
Source: The Highs and Lows: Parenting teenagers, Parentline Plus (020 7284 5500)
Links: Parentline plus press release | Children Now report
Date: 2006-Apr
A report examined the engagement of young people in education, training, and employment, and considered the barriers to such engagement faced by those in the youth justice system. On a given day, only around 35-40 per cent of young people in the youth justice system were in receipt of full-time education, training, and employment provision.
Source: Barriers to Engagement in Education, Training and Employment, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office (020 7271 3033)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Apr
Two linked reports presented findings from a survey of schools which formed part of the national evaluation of 'On Track' (a long-term multi-component initiative aimed at children and the families of children aged 4-12 who might be at risk of offending and anti-social behaviour). A positive picture emerged overall: but some specific groups consistently appeared to be doing worse than others, whether risk or protective factors were examined.
Source: Sunita Bhabra, Sokratis Dinos and Deborah Ghate, Young People, Risk and Protection: A major survey of secondary schools in On Track areas, Research Report 728, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | Sunita Bhabra, Sokratis Dinos and Deborah Ghate, Young People, Risk and Protection: A major survey of primary schools in On Track areas, Research Brief 713, Department for Education and Skills
Links: Report 728 | Brief 728 | Primary report | Brief 713
Date: 2006-Apr
A report said that looked-after children in prison were not receiving the support they were entitled to.
Source: Di Hart, Tell Them Not To Forget About Us: A guide to practice with looked after children in custody, National Children s Bureau (020 7843 6029)
Links: Report | NCB press release
Date: 2006-Apr
In 2004-05 287,013 offences were committed by children/young people aged 10-17 in England and Wales, down slightly from 287,883 in 2003-04. Breaches of a statutory order such as an anti-social behaviour order rose from 11,175 to 13,378 in 2004-05: but drugs offences fell from 13,522 to 11,879.
Source: Youth Justice Annual Statistics 2004/05, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office (020 7271 3033)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Apr
Three linked reports examined young black people's experiences of the criminal justice system. Young black people experienced racism after coming into contact with criminal justice agencies. But some agencies - particularly youth offending team workers - were generally trusted.
Source: David Wilson and Gwyther Rees (eds.), Just Justice: A study into black young people s experiences of the youth justice system, Children s Society (020 7841 4415) | Douglas Sharpe, Serve and Protect?: Black young people s experiences of policing in the community, Children s Society | David Wilson and Sharon Moore, Playing the Game : The experiences of young black men in custody, Children s Society
Links: Just Justice | Serve and Protect | Playing the Game | Children's Society press release | Young People Now report
Date: 2006-Mar
A report highlighted the problems faced by young people leaving custody, and called for a more co-ordinated approach to improve young people s access to housing; education, training and employment; health and substance misuse services; family support; and financial advice.
Source: Youth Resettlement: A framework for action, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office (020 7271 3033)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Feb
A literature review said that the evidence of a direct link between video games and violent behaviour in society remained contradictory.
Source: Raymond Boyle and Matthew Hibberd, Review of Research on the Impact of Violent Computer Games on Young People, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (020 7211 6200)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Feb
An inquiry into the treatment of children in penal custody recommended severely restricting physical intervention, stopping the strip searching of children, and an end to prison segregation.
Source: The Carlile Inquiry, Howard League for Penal Reform (020 7249 7373)
Links: HLPR press release | YJB press release | NSPCC press release | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Feb
A survey found that 8 out of 10 crime victims thought that more constructive activities for young people in the community, and better supervision by parents, would be effective in stopping re-offending.
Source: Press release 16 January 2006, Victim Support (020 7735 9166) and SmartJustice
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2006-Jan
A report investigated the role of community members during referral order meetings, and the techniques adopted. It assessed the quality of contracts made between young people and the panel, and how well young people were encouraged to engage in the process.
Source: Sarah Jones and Colin Roberts, Examining the Involvement in Community Involvement: A case study of referral order volunteers in one youth offending team, Active Citizenship Centre/Home Office (duncan.prime@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk)
Date: 2006-Jan
A report said that mentoring for young offenders succeeded in some respects, particularly in re-integrating young people into education, training, and the community. But young people were reluctant to be mentored, and questions about the effectiveness and cost of the scheme remained.
Source: Ian St James-Roberts, Ginny Greenlaw, Antonia Simon and Jane Hurry, National Evaluation of Youth Justice Board Mentoring Schemes 2001 to 2004, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office (020 7271 3033)
Links: Report | Summary | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Jan