A critical juncture for youth justice: Learning lessons and future directions for a post-pandemic youth justice system
Today, AYJ publishes the second of three policy briefings for our ‘Impact of COVID-19 on Youth Justice’ research project, delivered in collaboration between ourselves and the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of the UK Research and Innovation’s rapid response to COVID-19.
The briefing considers key challenges for the youth justice system that have been brought about, aggravated or accentuated by the pandemic, highlighting the need for urgent action to improve the management of children’s cases, their experiences in court, the response to children who are exploited, and the inequitable experiences of racially minoritised children. It demonstrates how the youth justice system is at a critical juncture, considers future directions for justice for children, and calls for lessons to be learnt from experiences during the pandemic.
The briefing finds that there are multiple emerging challenges for youth justice including…
Delayed justice: Delays in the police and courts progressing children’s cases were increasing even before the pandemic and are having life-changing impacts.
Children’s experiences of courts and sentencing: Children’s effective participation in court is too often at risk, and a lack of specialism and understanding of children’s needs is impacting children’s experiences and outcomes. Changes during COVID-19 have shone a light on this.
The role of Youth Offending Teams: YOTs face significant challenges ahead in responding to the impacts of COVID-19, balancing new ways of working and ensuring they are in children’s best interests.
The briefing recommends that we must build a youth justice system fit for the future, which means…
Addressing injustice: The pandemic has emphasised and exacerbated current injustices in the youth justice system. In particular, it has highlighted the need to tackle system delays and their impacts, and prevent the unjust overcriminalisation of particular groups of children.
Considering future directions for the youth justice system: The pandemic has in many ways shed light on where the youth justice system is being successful in centring the needs of children, and where it is not. In examining children’s experiences during the pandemic, and considering the ‘recovery’ of the system, COVID-19 presents a momentous opportunity to think ambitiously about what is next for youth justice.
Read the full policy briefing here.
This briefing draws on our comprehensive literature review, in-depth interviews with national stakeholders, consultation sessions with AYJ members and Young Advocates, and a series of research papers by our project partners at Manchester Metropolitan University.