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Intersectionality: More than just a buzzword for girls and young women in transition
“Girls and young women are in a particularly unique position in the criminal justice system. As a minority due to both their age and gender, they are consistently overlooked in a system predominantly designed for men and understanding around the needs and requirements of girls and young women is frequently neglected in research, policy and practice.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Youth Justice: Reflections of a Defence Solicitor
“From schools closing to social isolation, there is no question that children in England are being severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Children involved with the youth justice system are facing unique challenges at this trying time, including some being locked up for nearly 23 hours a day in detention training centres.
Introducing Millie Hall, our new Communications Assistant
“Hello everyone! I’m Millie, the new Communications Assistant at the SCYJ. I am joining the SCYJ out of my dedication to holistically support vulnerable young people facing adversity, and also to help address the gross overrepresentation of BAME children and young people in the youth justice system (YJS).
Ensuring custody is the last resort for children in England and Wales
We are proud to publish a new report, Ensuring custody is the last resort for children in England and Wales. Developed with an expert group of our members, we recommend that custody should only ever be used as a last resort for children is enshrined in domestic law and international human rights conventions, but is not currently applied as such.
Introducing Amania Scott-Samuels, our new Policy and Engagement Assistant
“I have always been keen to bridge gaps between underrepresented groups and those making the decisions that have such a significant impact on their lives. Growing up in Brixton and seeing many of those close to me affected by the criminal justice system (CJS) led me to study Criminology at university.
Coronavirus: Issues and recommendations for children and young people
In this unprecedented public health emergency, our members and stakeholders are working intensively through the many challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be implications for all children and young people in our communities, particular challenges for those in the youth justice system, and exceptionally critical risks for children in custody. Over the past few weeks, we have been working with our members to gather information and insight, enabling us to highlight issues and make practical suggestions.
Response: Justice Select Committee inquiry on children in custody
We responded to the Justice Select Committee inquiry into children and young people in custody. Our response covers a range of topics including custody as a last resort; Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) children in custody; the harm of the secure estate; staffing; restraint; placements; and resettlement.
Response: Consultation on Knife Crime Prevention Orders (KCPOs) guidance
We welcome the opportunity to respond to the Home Office consultation on the Knife Crime Prevention Order (KCPO) guidance. We worked closely with the Prison Reform Trust (PRT) during the parliamentary stages of the Offensive Weapons Bill to assist parliamentarians on scrutiny of the bill’s provisions. Our work helped to secure the consultation on the guidance on KCPOs as well as the piloting of KCPOs, with a report on the pilot to be laid before Parliament prior to the further roll out of the orders.
Response: Labour and Liberal Democrat criminal justice policy reviews
Both the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats have recently consulted on their criminal justice policy. We responded to the consultations setting out our position and recommendations around priority areas of the youth justice system.
Statement: A call to end the use of pain-inducing techniques in the children’s secure estate
We have held longstanding opposition, as a point of principle, to the deliberate infliction of pain on children as part of any system of restraint. We have submitted a statement to Charlie Taylor’s independent review of pain-inducing restraint, urging the Ministry of Justice and the Youth Custody Service to prohibit the use of pain-inducing techniques on children and across child custody as a whole. We join a wide range of bodies and organisations that have called for a ban.
Our position on the response to serious violence
Violence is the product of multiple, complex and deep-rooted issues within society, it is not inevitable. From our research, it is clear that various government policies over the last decade have exacerbated many of the root causes of children becoming affected by, or involved in, serious violence. In this paper we explain our position and recommendations for the Government response to serious violence.
Response: Home Office consultation on new legal duty to support a multi-agency approach to preventing and tackling serious violence
We have responded to the Home Office consultation on a new legal duty to support a multi-agency approach to preventing and tackling serious violence. We support a public health approach to tackling serious violence which seeks to address its root causes and welcome the government’s acknowledgement of the need to shift focus from a punitive response towards a multi-agency, more preventative approach. We welcome the intention to encourage organisations to share information, data and intelligence, and work in concert rather than isolation to identify children at risk as early as possible.
Response: Justice Select Committee inquiry on court reform
We have responded to the Justice Select Committee inquiry into the Access to Justice impacts of courts and tribunals reform. Our response focuses on the HMCTS Reform Programme in the criminal courts as it affects child defendants, especially on the use of video links and online pleas.
“They just don’t understand what’s happened or why”: A report on child defendants and video links
We have published a report which suggests the rights of child defendants to a fair trial are being compromised by the government’s drive to use video links in court hearings. It is believed to be cheaper to have an under-18-year-old defendant take part in a court hearing from prison than it is to transport them to court. The child may say they prefer it to travelling for hours in a prison van too. But the reality is that children accused of crimes already struggle to understand what is happening in court when they are there in person, not least because so many have communication difficulties. Video link makes this problem worse.
Growing up, Moving On: The international treatment of childhood criminal records
The childhood criminal records system in England and Wales anchors children to their past and prevents them moving on from their mistakes. Our research presented in this report shows that the system in England and Wales is far more punitive than those in comparable jurisdictions; children in England and Wales are more likely to receive a criminal record, and the effect of that record is more profound and lasts longer than in other jurisdictions.
Growing Up, Moving On: A report on the childhood criminal records system in England and Wales
The childhood criminal records system in England and Wales anchors children to their past and prevents them moving on from their mistakes. There’s evidence to show that the system acts as a barrier to employment, education and housing. These are important factors in preventing reoffending, so by blocking access to them, the criminal records system works against rehabilitation and thus the aims of the youth justice system. Worryingly, the system also perpetuates inequalities in the justice system, for instance among children in care and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic children.
Response: Charlie Taylor’s review of the youth justice system and the Government’s response
We welcome the Charlie Taylor review of the youth justice system and the government’s response. We agree with the principles stated by, and implicit in, Taylor’s work, and with many of his recommendations. A number of the government’s commitments set out in its response are welcome; however, we are disappointed that it has not gone further and that it has failed to respond to some of Taylor’s proposals at all.
What’s in a name? The identification of children in trouble with the law
In this report by our board member Dr Di Hart, we explore the issues around naming and shaming children in the justice system. We find that the law on this issue is inconsistent, unfair and counterproductive and call for a ban on identification of children in trouble with the law for criminal or anti-social behaviour, at any stage in the case.