AYJ Monthly Newsletter: July 2023
AYJ
News
EVENT: The Young Adult Approach: Thinking Differently to Secure Better Outcomes
As part of the HMPPS Insights Festival 2023, the AYJ will be speaking at a Transition to Adulthood Alliance (T2A) event, presenting findings of our project on children and young people turning 18 while in contact with the justice system – focussing on our research into the experiences of racially minoritised young people and the support and services available to them at this critical time of change. The Young Justice Advisors and Spark Inside will also hold short sessions at the event, which will provide “an overview of the young adult evidence base”. This event, taking place from 3.30-4.30pm on Tuesday 26th September is open to staff who work in the criminal justice system, details here.
AYJ
Views
LETTER: Call for urgent Government action to prevent crises in the children’s secure estate
Over 30 signatories joined the AYJ in writing to youth justice Minister Damian Hinds raising the alarm about deteriorating conditions in the children’s secure estate and the desperate measures being resorted to by those in charge. The letter highlights concerns around the significant increase in the number of young people aged 18 or over being held in the children’s secure estate; shock and dismay that PAVA spray may be rolled out to staff in the secure estate, and that General Purpose Dogs and “flashbangs” are reportedly being deployed in YOIs; and the “totally unjustifiable” hardening and adultifying of the children’s estate. Read the letter here. The Mirror reports, CYPNow reports, the Justice Gap reports, Action for Race Equality reports, Wipers reports. Channel 4 reports on the proposed rollout of PAVA spray in the secure estate. We have now received a response from the minister and are continuing to coordinate work with our members and wider stakeholders on these critical issues.
ENGAGEMENT:
AYJ Policy Manager Millie Harris and Policy and Communications Officer Mia Edwards met with Sarah Jones MP, Shadow Policing Minister.
Millie Harris presented to the Probation Youth Justice Governance Board findings from our Evidence Review exploring the policy context and existing evidence for our project on young people in transition in the justice system.
Over the last few months, AYJ Interim CEO Saqib Deshmukh has been working with Agenda Alliance to meet with PCCs across the country regarding the Young Women’s Justice project, introducing the work of the AYJ. He has met with the Office’s of: MOPAC and London Deputy Mayor, Deputy Mayor for Manchester, Northumbria PCC, Cleveland PCC, and West Yorkshire PCC.