Children in custody 2023-24An analysis of 12–18-year-olds’ perceptions of their experiences in secure training centres and young offender institutions.

Author: HM Inspectorate of Prisons

Published: 13-11-2024

More children in custody felt unsafe than last year, and fewer said they were getting any education, according to an annual review by HM Inspectorate of Prisons. The review, which analysed survey findings from children living in young offender institutions (YOIs) and secure training centres (STCs) in England and Wales in 2023-24, found that children spent the majority of their time locked in their cells, with little done to address their offending. When they were able to mix with other children on the wings, this was often marred by conflict and violence.

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The effects of youth clubs on education and crimeUsing quasi-experimental variation from austerity-related cuts, I provide the first causal estimates of youth clubs' effects on education and crime.

Author: Institute of Fiscal Studies

Published: 12-11-2024

Youth clubs are community-based after-school programmes, typically offered free of charge to teenagers in underprivileged neighbourhoods. I provide the first causal estimates of their effects on education and crime, leveraging quasi-experimental variation from austerity-related cuts, which led to the closure of 30% of youth clubs in London between 2010 and 2019.

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Children’s Knowledge and Opinion of SentencingFocuses on a cohort – children over the minimum age of criminal responsibility

Author: Sentencing Academy

Published: 31-10-2024

This report describes the findings from a survey of 1,038 children living in England and Wales aged between 10-17 years, drawn from the general public and conducted in 2023. The research contributes to the literature on the public’s knowledge and opinion of sentencing and this survey follows up an earlier report by the Sentencing Academy, published in January 2022, which explored public knowledge of sentencing practice and trends through a survey of adult respondents.

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Addressing racial disparity in the youth justice systemA report by Revolving Doors that looks at good and promising practice examples that address racial disparity.

Author: Revolving Doors

Published: 24-10-2024

Revolving Doors were commissioned by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) to produce a review of good and promising local practice that is tackling ethnic disparity and over-representation in youth justice across England and Wales.

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Children and Young Persons Policing Strategy 2024 - 2027The strategy is based on three pillars; ‘your trust’, ‘your voice’ and ‘your future’.

Author: National Police Chief’s Council

Published: 18-10-2024

The National Police Chief’s Council have released their proposals for a child centred policing strategy. The report recognises the importance of diverting children and young people from the criminal justice system (CJS) and proposes a strategy to ensure children are seen as children before anything else in encounters with the police.

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How is youth diversion working for children with special educational needs and disabilities?Youth diversion offers many children a pathway out of the criminal justice system

Author: Centre for Justice Innovation

Published: 18-04-2024

Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are hugely over-represented at all points in the criminal justice system. Evidence suggests that 70–90% of children in the justice system have some form of SEND.

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Young Advocates for Youth JusticeA youth-led report about keeping children and young people out of the justice system

Author: Alliance for Youth Justice/Leaders Unlocked

Published: 12-04-2024

The project is led by children and young people who have lived experience of the youth justice system, and who want to be part of a movement to drive positive change around issues that are important to them. The project supports the Young Advocates to play a leadership role and represent children and young people across the country.

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Unmasked and Exposed: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Youth Custodial EstateA Compelling Case for Ideological Change

Author: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

Published: 03-04-2024

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on custodial institutions has been the subject of intense scrutiny. During the pandemic, many international jurisdictions failed to develop clear and child-focussed plans for the management of children in custody, instead relying on strategies developed for adult populations.

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‘Shattered lives, Stolen Futures’:The Jay Review on Child Criminal Exploitation

Author: Action for Children

Published: 27-03-2024

The facts of criminal exploitation paint a stark picture: tens of thousands of children and young people across the country are controlled and manipulated by criminal gangs, while countless more are at risk. The toll on these young lives is immeasurable, leading to serious physical harm, long-term trauma and criminalisation. Children are paying with their freedom, their childhoods and their lives.

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