
Digital divide for children in youth justice system
Inspectors found nearly half children in youth justice system had reduced access to support during lockdown and 40% no education or training.
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Inspectors found nearly half children in youth justice system had reduced access to support during lockdown and 40% no education or training.
Youth Justice Statistics for 2018/19 show that the number of first time entrants to the youth justice system fell by 18% last year.
The number of children and young people in the youth justice system fell again in 2016/17 but knife crime was up and those detained were more likely to be restrained or separated.
Charlie Taylor’s review argues for a devolved youth justice system and a network of secure schools; the MoJ agrees to most recommendations and two such schools.
While there are plenty of things to complain about in our justice system, it seems churlish not to celebrate the continuing fall in youth crime and the reduction in the numbers of young people drawn into the system.
These findings are well known to researchers, policy makers and practitioners in the youth justice field although, as always, there is value in having them re-iterated. My personal view is that any reform of youth justice needs to focus on two key issues…
In order that education is truly placed at the heart of youth custody, we must reconceive youth prisons as schools. The review’s ambition is for smaller custodial establishments which are created as secure schools…