05/06/2025: Safeguarding First: Children and the criminal legal system

Hear from experts on how to use safeguarding and welfare law to better defend children in the criminal legal system.

Youth Justice Legal Centre

01/06/2025: Black and mixed heritage young offenders ‘given harsher penalties’

Black and mixed heritage children are being handed tougher penalties than their white peers, even when they have committed the same offences, researchers are warning.

Children and Young People Now

01/06/2025: 38 youth justice organisations condemn UK Government’s decision to introduce PAVA spray in Children’s prisons

The Alliance for Youth Justice (“AYJ”) have joined forces with 37 supporting organisations to condemn the government’s decision to introduce PAVA spray, similar to pepper spray, for use against Children in Young Offenders Institutions.

Youth Justice Legal Centre

28/05/2025: YJLC Director, Aika Stephenson on the Netflix show adolescence

Aika Stephenson has spent her career seeking to raise awareness of how easily children can end up in the criminal justice system.

Youth Justice Legal Centre

28/05/2025: Reducing Criminal Justice Involvement for Care-Experienced Children: New Report

A new report from the Centre for Justice Innovation and the Centre for Care explores the heightened risk of criminal justice involvement for children who have had contact with the social care system.

Youth Justice Legal Centre

20/05/2025: Mobile prison used to teach children about crime

A mobile prison cell, complete with bunk beds and a metal toilet, is visiting primary schools to teach children about crime.

BBC News

22/04/2025: Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel report provides recommendations for safeguarding children from Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published its report following its thematic review of a sample of safeguarding reviews in relation to Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage children.

Youth Justice Legal Centre

22/04/2025: Revealed: The prisons keeping children locked in their cells for hours on end

Children in prisons in England are typically being kept in their cells for about 20 hours a day and receiving less than 15 hours of education per week, figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveal today (Monday 7 April).

The Howard League for Penal Reform

07/04/2025: Probe reveals ‘concerning’ rates of young arson suspects

Nearly 4,000 young arson suspects were investigated by police over just three years, data analysis shows.

Children and Young People Now

01/04/2025: New MOJ Report Examines Needs and Characteristics of Prolific Youth Offenders

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published a report on repeat offending by children and young people in England and Wales.

Youth Justice Legal Centre