Find out what we've been up to in the month of March!

A coalition of criminal justice and race equality organisations have written to the Prime Minster warning that the government’s plans for policing and sentencing will further entrench racial inequality in the criminal justice system.

AYJ responds to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill, introduced to the House of Commons on 9th March 2021 and due to have its second reading on 15th and 16th March 2021.

The AYJ is one of 80 organisations that have joined the End Child Poverty campaign and signed the letter calling for children and child poverty to be put at the heart of the Spring Budget.

Find out what we've been up to in the month of February!

Do you know any 14-20 year olds who want to have their say on youth justice? Our Young Advocates are looking to hold one-to-one interviews with 14 - 20 year olds who have personal experience of the youth justice system as part of their peer research to influence positive change in youth justice.

AYJ Comments on Rob Butler MP’s Ten Minute Rule Bill that would change the law so someone who turns 18 between allegedly committing an offence and appearing in court would have their hearing and sentencing within the youth justice system.

Join us in our launching event for the AYJ, as we ask the question ‘how could we reimagine ‘justice’ for children?’ - the first in a series of #AYJasks…

AYJ Comments on Justice Select Committee inquiry reports, the government response and a new HMI Prisons review, all published this week. These reports provide welcome scrutiny of the youth justice system but the inquiry has missed opportunities for recommendations to bring about urgently needed reform in key areas of policy.

Three important publications released this week have shone further light on the issues faced by children in the youth justice system. We detail key findings and highlight critical concerns, particularly for children in custody, calling for urgent action to address the problems that persist.

Pippa Goodfellow, Director of the AYJ, comments on HM Inspectorate of Prisons annual report on children’s experiences in custody, outlining the need for a clear strategy, with the bold and decisive action to address the “appalling experiences and conditions in youth custody.”

We are delighted to announce our relaunch as the Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ), today, marking a new and exciting phase for the organisation previously known as the Standing Committee for Youth Justice (SCYJ). The AYJ brings together over 70 non-profit organisations, advocating for and with children to drive positive change in youth justice in England and Wales.

Along with Agenda, the alliance for women and girls at risk, we are publishing our literature review as part of the Young Women’s Justice Project which shines a light on the experiences of young  women aged 17–25  years old in contact with the criminal justice system, including the experiences of girls transitioning into adult services as they turn 18.

The Damilola Taylor Trust established 7th December as the first national ‘Day of Hope’ on Damilola’s birthday, to celebrate the hopes of young people. This was a perfect opportunity for the Young Advocates to share their inspiring progress in their first presentation to a group of AYJ members and experts from the youth justice sector.

Amania Scott-Samuels, our Policy and Engagement Assistant, shares an exciting update about our Youth Justice Young Advocates project, including priority issues identified for their peer research, how they have already been involved in influencing decision-making and opportunities to get involved.

We are delighted to welcome 7 new members of our board! With these new additions, the board’s expertise has been expanded with young people’s perspectives, grassroots and community-based frontline experience, communications expertise, and strengthening our work to address racial injustice in the youth justice system.

Pippa Goodfellow (Director of the AYJ) and Hannah Smithson (Chair of the AYJ) comment on the publication of the Sentencing White Paper by the Ministry of Justice, describing proposals as a ‘mixed bag’ of reforms for the youth justice system.

Childhood criminal records are undermining positive developments across the youth justice system. In a new briefing, we have considered how the current criminal records system acts as a barrier to the priorities and goals wished to be achieved by the Youth Justice Board, as set out in their new strategy.