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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri

Time: 11:36 am

Results for juvenile justice systems (northern ireland)

2 results found

Author: Northern Ireland. Department of Justice

Title: A Review of the Youth Justice System in Northern Ireland

Summary: This Review was launched in 2010 by the Minister of Justice, David Ford, in furtherance of the Hillsborough Castle Agreement. Undertaken by an independent team of three people, its terms of reference were to critically assess the current arrangements for responding to youth crime and make recommendations for how these might be improved within the wider context of, among other things, international obligations, best practice and a fi nancially uncertain future. The Review Team consulted a wide range of stakeholders, including children and young people and members of the communities where they lived. Off ending by children tends to be less serious than adults; as with the pattern in other jurisdictions, common off ences include criminal damage, theft and common assault. Around 10,000 young people come into contact with the criminal justice system at some level during the course of a typical year. Like other developed countries, Northern Ireland has a separate justice system for children, from age 10 to 17 inclusive, underpinned by statutory aims to prevent off ending, protect the public and secure the welfare of the child.

Details: Belfast: Northern Ireland Department of Justice, 2011. 128p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 13, 2012 at: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/16000/1/report-of-the-review-of-the-youth-justice-system-in-ni%5B1%5D.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/16000/1/report-of-the-review-of-the-youth-justice-system-in-ni%5B1%5D.pdf

Shelf Number: 123610

Keywords:
Childrens Rights
Diversion
Juvenile Courts
Juvenile Justice Systems (Northern Ireland)
Juvenile Offenders
Young Offenders

Author: Northern Ireland. Criminal Justice Inspection

Title: Early Youth Interventions: An inspection of the contribution the criminal justice agencies in Northern Ireland make to preventing children and young people from entering the criminal justice system

Summary: Early intervention can be described as the policies and programmes which are aimed at tackling the problems emerging for children and young people and their families most at risk. There is clear evidence to show that channelling funds to young children is likely to generate more positive changes than spending money on an older child. Many of the problems that contribute to criminal behaviour are already formed long before the young person reaches the criminal justice system. A snap-shot study on the backgrounds of young people detained in the Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre in November 2011 shows over a third were ‘looked-after’ or voluntary accommodated children within the care system; 82% were identified as coming from a single parent family and 34% had experienced domestic violence in the home environment. In relation to educational attainment, 38% of the sample had a statement of learning needs whilst 14% had a recognised learning disability; 80% of the sample had issues relating to school exclusion or absconding from school. The vast majority of young people (92%) had misused drugs or alcohol, while 32% had self-harmed. The profile of young offenders as those coming from dysfunctional families who have become detached from the formal education system, and who have developed chaotic lifestyles abusing drugs and alcohol is depressingly familiar. While the problems are well known, and the benefit of youth interventions are well understood, the practical difficulties of ensuring that this determines the allocation of resources and focus of work across the various Northern Ireland Executive departments are enormous. Inspectors could not get a complete picture of the number, types and funding of early intervention programmes available in Northern Ireland. They found there was a myriad of providers, target participants, silo funding streams and delivery and evaluation methodologies. In relation to the situation in Northern Ireland generally, and the justice system specifically, there was a lack of co-ordination, a risk of duplication and a lack of evaluation which made it difficult to assess effectiveness and value for money. What is clear is that for many young people it was a case of ‘too little too late’. All too often interventions attempt to deal with social problems that are already well entrenched. This is not only ineffective in helping those young people with issues that contribute to criminal behaviour, it is also more expensive. The path to the youth justice system is a well-trodden one, yet we as a society seem incapable of helping some young people to move off it. Ultimately the question of whether to fully commit to an early interventions approach is one for Ministers. There needs to be consensus and co-operation between those responsible for health and social care, education, criminal justice, social development, employment and learning and the environment. If there is a desire for a move to early interventions then a joined up system of governance, accountability, funding, delivery, evaluation of outcomes and ultimately a shared vision of success is essential. This report calls for a clear commitment to such an approach. The challenge is immense. The alternative is a continued failure, as a society, for our most vulnerable children.

Details: Belfast: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2012. 65p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 25, 2012 at: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/a3/a33b7bdf-05a2-4574-b7a1-3b6c8eeea978.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/a3/a33b7bdf-05a2-4574-b7a1-3b6c8eeea978.pdf

Shelf Number: 125775

Keywords:
Delinquency Prevention
Juvenile Justice Systems (Northern Ireland)
Juvenile Offenders