The government announced a pilot scheme to deal with first-time offenders aged between 10 and 17 who had committed a minor offence, designed to prevent them being taken to court unnecessarily. The 'Youth Restorative Justice Disposal' would ensure that they had to explain their actions and apologize to their victim.
Source: Press release 11 December 2007, Ministry of Justice (020 7210 8500)
Links: MOJ press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2007-Dec
The government announced a comprehensive Children's Plan, designed to improve pupils' educational attainment, health, and happiness. The Plan set targets for 2020 for improving the skills children had at the start of both primary and secondary school, reducing obesity, eradicating child poverty, and 'significantly reducing' the number of children convicted of criminal offences. By 2020, schools would be expected to have 90 per cent of children 'developing well' across all areas of the early years foundation stage by age 5, and reading at or above expected levels in English and maths by age 11. £225 million would be provided to build or upgrade 3,500 playgrounds and set up 30 new supervised adventure playgrounds. The plan outlined a series of reviews and consultations, including: a review of the impact of the commercial world on children's well-being; a review of sex and relationship education; an action plan in 2008 to tackle housing overcrowding; a youth alcohol action plan and drugs strategy in spring 2008; and a children's workforce action plan early in 2008.
Source: The Children's Plan: Building brighter futures, Cm 7280, Department for Children, Schools and Families, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Hansard | DCSF press release | Childrens Society press release | NCH press release | CPAG press release | Daycare Trust press release | 4Children press release | CWDC press release | PSLA press release | Play England press release | IOSH press release | YJB press release | EDCM press release | Rainer press release | FPLD press release | Relate press release | NASUWT press release | ASCL press release | NGA press release | PAT press release | GTCE press release | SSAT press release | Primary Review press release | MHF press release | Addaction press release | DEF press release | SPUC press release | IPPR press release | CBI press release | IOD press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Telegraph report (1) | Telegraph report (2) | BBC report (1) | BBC report (2) | FT report | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | Community Care report | New Start report | Socialist Worker report
Date: 2007-Dec
The government published an action plan designed to reduce the over-representation of young black people in the criminal justice system.
Source: Delivering Improved Outcomes for Young Black People in the Criminal Justice System (2008-2011), Ministry of Justice (020 7210 8500)
Links: Action plan | Hansard | MOJ press release
Date: 2007-Dec
A report evaluated a young offender programme led by the National Grid company, under which prisoners were given sustainable training and work at the end of a custodial sentence. For those who had completed the programme the re-offending rate was only 7 per cent.
Source: SMART Company, The Role of Business in Social Change: A review of the young offender programme led by National Grid, Smith Institute (020 7592 3618)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Nov
The Court of Appeal ruled that sentencers considering indeterminate sentences for children needed to bear in mind that the presumption applying to adults in relation to previous convictions did not apply to children. They should not make automatic assessments based on what a child might have done when they were younger.
Source: Court of Appeal 27 November 2007
Links: No link
Date: 2007-Nov
A new book examined effective practice in work with persistent young offenders. It contrasts two major evaluations of projects for juvenile offenders, one of which was successful and the other less so.
Source: David Lobley, and David Smith, Persistent Young Offenders: An evaluation of two projects, Ashgate Publications (01235 827730)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Nov
A study examined two pilot schemes (in Bradford and York) designed to increase young people's self-esteem, reward positive behaviour, and stimulate a greater appreciation of the positive contribution they could make to their communities. The evidence from York did not allow firm conclusions, but was mostly positive in the case of the Bradford pilot.
Source: Julia Hirst et al., An Evaluation of Two Initiatives to Reward Young People, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2007-Oct
A report said that certain attitudes and risk factors could influence whether or not young people were likely to commit violent acts, be on the receiving end of them, or fall into both categories. It suggested that tackling these lifestyle factors could help reduce levels of violence among the young.
Source: Rachael Owen and Anna Sweeting, Hoodie or Goodie? The link between violent victimisation and offending in young people, Victim Support (020 7735 9166)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Oct
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on young black people and the criminal justice system. It said that it was drawing together existing and planned work in this area into a 'simple, cost-effective delivery strategy' to reduce unfair disproportionality for young black people; and that it would bring forward detailed operating proposals in December 2007.
Source: The Government's Response to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee Report: Young Black People and the Criminal Justice System, Cm 7214, Ministry of Justice, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report | MOJ press release
Date: 2007-Oct
An article said that initiatives to combat the risks associated with the social exclusion of young offenders, and to facilitate reintegration, had failed to alleviate the problem. It suggested a rights-based approach instead.
Source: Patricia Gray, 'Youth justice, social exclusion and the demise of social justice', Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, Volume 46 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Sep
Researchers examined the experience of youth inclusion and support panels (designed to identify and support young people aged 8-13 who were at high risk of offending and anti-social behaviour, before they entered the youth justice system). Many children who experienced YISP intervention demonstrated improvements in their mental health and well-being: but it was not clear whether these improvements were sustained.
Source: Janet Walker et al., Youth Inclusion and Support Panels: Preventing crime and antisocial behaviour?, Research Report RW018, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2007-Sep
A new book examined the theory and application of the 'risk' concept in work with young people and young adults who had offended, both in terms of public protection and of young people's own vulnerability to being harmed. It said that risk management of young offenders should balance public protection with recognition of children's needs; and it called for a review of the existing approach to risk assessment, arguing that there was not enough focus on safeguarding children.
Source: Maggie Blyth, Enver Solomon and Kerry Baker, Young People and 'Risk', Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Sep
A report examined how 'respect' operated in an urban context, and what this implied for young people in particular. There was a disjuncture between the government's conception of respect and community, and the way that these were actually experienced in the contemporary city.
Source: Louisa Thomson, The Respect Drive: The politics of young people and community, Centre for Urban and Community Research/Goldsmiths College/University of London (020 7919 7390)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Sep
An audit report said that increased funding and a stronger focus on youth justice services in Scotland had delivered some positive changes: but it was still not possible to demonstrate clearly that resources provided value for money, and were being used effectively.
Source: Dealing with Offending by Young People: Performance update, Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General (0131 477 1234)
Links: Report | Audit Scotland press release | COSLA press release
Date: 2007-Aug
A report said that a lack of planning for young offenders leaving custody cost taxpayers more than £80 million every year. Writing resettlement plans much earlier, and making sure young people had stable housing and access to training or job opportunities once released, could reduce re-offending and result in a net saving of over £12,000 per offender.
Source: Judy Renshaw, The Business Case for Effective Resettlement, RESET (020 7840 5600)
Links: Summary | Rainer press release | YJB press release | Guardian report | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Aug
A report evaluated an initiative designed to address the target of ensuring that at least 90 per cent of young people who had offended were engaged in suitable education, training, or employment during and at the end of their sentence. The initiative was very successful in targeting the hardest-to-reach groups, and highlighted their complex needs and how the various local projects rose to the challenge of meeting them.
Source: Karen Cooper, Alex Sutherland and Colin Roberts, Keeping Young People Engaged: Improving education, training and employment opportunities for serious and persistent young offenders, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office (020 7271 3033)
Links: Report |Summary | YJB press release
Date: 2007-Jul
An article examined a 'fast track' policy in Scotland designed to speed up the processing of persistent youth offending cases, and reduce rates of persistent offending. The policy was initially welcomed by a wide range of practitioners, decision-makers, and managers involved with children's hearings, who mostly thought that it was a positive innovation consistent with the hearing system's commitment to a welfare-based approach. 'Fast track' cases were handled more quickly than others. After two years, however, the policy was discontinued, largely because of negative evidence about re-offending.
Source: Malcolm Hill et al., 'More haste, less speed? An evaluation of fast track policies to tackle persistent youth offending in Scotland', Youth Justice, Volume 7 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jul
An article examined the failure of campaigners and others to generate public scandals over the youth justice system, despite the ample raw material.
Source: Mark Drakeford and Ian Butler, 'Everyday tragedies: justice, scandal and young people in contemporary Britain', Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, Volume 46 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jul
An article examined the involvement of the police in the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme, as well as the wider contribution of police officers to youth offending teams. It was found that the police were key in terms of 'brokering access' to young offenders.
Source: Ian Waters, 'The policing of young offenders', British Journal of Criminology, Volume 47 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jul
The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales published its annual report for 2006-07. It said that it had focused its attention on four priority areas: reducing offending; improving outcomes for children and young people; ensuring custody was safe and effective; and working to increase victim and public confidence. It had failed to hit any of its key performance targets.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts 2006/07, HC 841, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Jul
A government agency published an evaluation of the pilot of its 12-month intensive supervision and surveillance programme (ISSP) for young offenders. It said that there would be no national roll-out of the 12-month ISSP for the time being, since it had decided to concentrate on the 6-month ISSP programme.
Source: Alex Sutherland, Emily Taylor, Emily Gray, Simon Merrington and Colin Roberts, 12-month ISSP, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office (020 7271 3033) | Press release 19 July 2007, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office
Links: Summary | YJB press release | Young People Now report
Date: 2007-Jul
Campaigners said that the treatment of children in custody amounted to child abuse, and in some cases might actually be criminal.
Source: Children in Prison: An independent submission to United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Howard League for Penal Reform (020 7249 7373)
Links: HLPR press release
Date: 2007-Jun
A seminar report (by an official advisory body) said that a cross-governmental national strategy was needed to tackle drugs, alcohol misuse, and risky sexual behaviour by young people. In order to ensure that the strategy met young people?s needs, young people themselves should have a central role in the strategy?s development.
Source: Sex, Drugs, Alcohol and Young People: A review of the impact drugs and alcohol have on young people?s sexual behaviour, Independent Advisory Group for Sexual Health and HIV (Sexual_Health_IAG@dh.gsi.gov.uk)
Links: Report | IAG press release | FPA press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jun
An article examined the effectiveness of the Scottish model of youth justice. Labelling processes within agency working cultures served to recycle certain categories of children into the youth justice system, whereas other serious offenders escaped the tutelage of the formal system altogether. The deeper a child penetrated the formal system, the less likely they were to desist from offending.
Source: Lesley McAra and Susan McVie, 'Youth justice?', European Journal of Criminology, Volume 4 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jun
The government began consultation on ways of giving greater choice in how young people gave evidence in court, include the use of video and remote links.
Source: Improving the Criminal Trial Process for Young Witnesses, Ministry of Justice (020 7210 8500)
Links: Consultation document | MOJ press release
Date: 2007-Jun
A report by a committee of MPs called for a national strategy to cut the number of young black people involved in crime. It highlighted the problems of social exclusion, absent fathers, and a lack of role models.
Source: Young Black People and the Criminal Justice System, Second Report (Session 2006-07), HC 181, House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | YJB press release | Nacro press release | Mayor of London press release | BBC report | Community Care report | Socialist Worker report
Date: 2007-Jun
A new book examined the 'relentless march of yobbery'. Violent crime had quadrupled since 1979, and foul language and abusive behaviour had permeated the whole of society.
Source: Francis Gilbert, Yob Nation: The truth about Britain's yob culture, Piatkus Books (01476 541080)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Jun
A think-tank report said that there was an 'urgent' need for a new approach to children in trouble, with too many being criminalized. It set out alternatives including an expansion of restorative justice programmes. It called for anti-social behaviour orders for children to be abolished; responsibility for youth justice to be moved from the Home Office to the Department for Education and Skills; the introduction of a new sentencing framework; and greater investment in prevention schemes to support children at risk.
Source: Zo? Davies and Will McMahon (eds.), Debating Youth Justice: From punishment to problem solving?, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies/King's College London (020 7848 1688)
Links: Report | CSF press release | Community Care report | Telegraph report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-May
The government announced (following a review) that the time was 'not yet right' to abolish detention in a young offender institution. It would be piloting a specification for a new regime for the 18-to-24 age group, as an integral part of new prison capacity building arrangements.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 8 May 2007, columns 6-7WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2007-May
A study found that magistrates were disregarding the advice of Youth Offending Teams and other professionals when making decisions on young people. Magistrates viewed information from YOTs as biased because they seldom recommended custody.
Source: Jo Phoenix, Doing Justice: Analysing 'risk and need' assessments in youth justice practice, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: ESRC press release | Community Care report
Date: 2007-May
A report by a government agency said that teenagers could gravitate towards gangs and group violence as a result of poor family relationships, exclusion from school, absence of positive role models, and a lack of youth facilities.
Source: Tara Young, Marian FitzGerald, Simon Hallsworth and Ian Joseph, Groups, Gangs and Weapons, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office (020 7271 3033)
Links: Summary | YJB press release | Nacro press release | Rainer press release | Crime Concern press release | Telegraph report | Community Care report | Young People Now report
Date: 2007-May
The government began consultation on proposals to improve access to education and training for young people in the youth justice system.
Source: Education and Training for Young People in the Youth Justice System, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Consultation document | YJB press release
Date: 2007-Apr
A new book examined the development of crime-prevention policies and approaches that involved early intervention in the lives of children, young people, and their families.
Source: Alan France and Ross Homel (eds.), Pathways and Crime Prevention: Theory, policy and practice, Willan Publishing (01884 840337)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Apr
A trade union report said that the poor academic performance of Afro-Caribbean boys at school was pushing hundreds towards a life of crime. Black fathers should take greater responsibility for their children's education to stop teenage boys turning to gun crime and gang culture.
Source: Gus John, Born to be Great: A charter on promoting the achievement of black Caribbean boys, National Union of Teachers (020 7388 6191)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Apr
An evaluation of a project involving young people aged 8-13 found that a child-centred approach to crime prevention could be effective. A flexible, key worker approach backed by multi-agency planning led to positive behaviour change and improved relationships at home, school, and in the community.
Source: Phil Raws, Solihull YISP An evaluation, Children's Society (020 7841 4415)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Mar
Campaigners said that over one-third of children under 17 issued with an anti-social behaviour order had a diagnosed mental health disorder or learning difficulty.
Source: Press release 26 February 2007, British Institute for Brain Injured Children (01278 684060)
Links: BIBIC press release | Research summary | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Mar
A government agency began consultation on a strategy for preventing youth offending.
Source: Bob Ashford, Towards A Youth Crime Prevention Strategy, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office (020 7271 3033)
Links: Consultation document | YJB press release | Crime Concern press release | Community Care report | Children Now report
Date: 2007-Mar
An article examined the emergence of parenting orders in Scotland, which became available in April 2005. Scottish local authorities were sceptical of an approach they perceived as an ideological and legislative mix premised on punitive notions of individual responsibility and justice.
Source: Reece Walters, 'Punishing "poor parents": "respect", "responsibility" and parenting orders in Scotland', Youth Justice, Volume 7 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Mar
An article presented the findings of a post-custody study of the experiences of young black people in the youth justice system in England and Wales.
Source: Jane Hill, 'Daring to dream: towards an understanding of young black people's reflections post-custody', Youth Justice, Volume 7 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Mar
An article examined the role and potential of school as a site for programmes designed to prevent and reduce anti-social and criminal behaviour by young people.
Source: Carol Hayden, Tom Williamson and Richard Webber, 'Schools, pupil behaviour and young offenders', British Journal of Criminology, Volume 47 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Feb
A think-tank (allied to the opposition Conservative Party) published a report which said that unless society tackled family breakdown it would make no progress in stopping youth crime and unlocking the cycle of deprivation in which many children were trapped.
Source: Iain Duncan Smith MP, Being Tough on the Causes of Crime: Tackling family breakdown to prevent youth crime, Centre for Social Justice (020 7620 1120)
Links: Report | CSJ press release
Date: 2007-Feb
An article examined the extent to which the government's declared intentions to unite youth justice practice cultures around a common emphasis on preventing offending through early criminal justice intervention had been realized in practice.
Source: Stewart Field, 'Practice cultures and the "new" youth justice in (England and) Wales', British Journal of Criminology, Volume 47 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Feb
A new book used a longitudinal study of South London boys to explore issues related to prevalence, offending frequency, specialization, onset sequences, co-offending, chronicity, career length, and trajectory estimation.
Source: Alex Piquero, David Farrington, Alfred Blumstein and Rolf Loeber, Key Issues in Criminal Career Research: New analyses of the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development, Cambridge University Press (01223 312393)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Jan
A new book examined evidence about children in trouble across a range of circumstances, demonstrating the tensions between welfare and justice, and between care and control, in the treatment of vulnerable young people. It evaluated the methodological and practical implications of the existing 'what works' debate within social policy.
Source: Carol Hayden, Children in Trouble: The role of families, schools and communities, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Jan