http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/rel/ccjs/youth-justice-2007.html

[LONDON, 17 may 2007] - Far too many children are being criminalised and there are is an urgent need for a new approach to children in trouble, according to a report published today by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King's College, London.

The report Debating youth justice: From punishment to problem solving provides a critical analysis of the youth justice system in England and Wales by experts from the UK and abroad.

The collection of essays notes that children are criminalised at the age of ten, much younger than in many other countries, including France, Germany, Canada and Russia and says that the age of criminal responsibility should be raised. It also says that far fewer children should be sent to prison and sets out alternative proposals. England and Wales currently has the one of the highest child imprisonment rates in Europe.

Debating youth justice: From punishment to problem solving includes contributions from Rob Allen, a former member of the Youth Justice Board, Bob Reitemeier, Chief Executive of the Children's Society, Professor Phil Scraton of Queen's University Belfast, Professor Barry Goldson of Liverpool University, Professor John Muncie of the Open University, Ray Arthur of the University of Teeside and Rebecca Palmer of the Greater London Authority as well as international experts.

A range of policy proposals are set out by the different authors including:

• Moving responsibility for youth justice from the Home Office to the Department of Education and Skills.
• An end to the use of prison custody for children
• The introduction of a new sentencing framework including a residential training order of up to two years or five years in the case of grave crimes.
• An expansion of restorative justice schemes, particularly in schools, where offenders make amends for their actions.
• Greater investment in prevention programmes and services to support children in trouble or at risk who have educational and health problems.
• Expansion in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
• A network of family support services
• Withdrawing the use of Anti Social Behaviour Orders for children
  

Richard Garside, director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, which published the report, said:

'Youth justice policy has gone up a dead end over the past few years, with little by way of honest debate about why we are punishing so many more young people. This collection essays does not give all the answers, but it does raise many of the most important questions.' 

Rob Allen, director of the International Centre for Prison Studies, added:

'Labour's fresh start in government should include a bold agenda to reduce the numbers of young people in court and in custody by replacing our inflated use of criminal justice measures with better prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.'

Further information

• Juvenile Sentencing: Written statement for the 4th session of the Human Rigths Council (March 2007)
• Commitee on Rights of the Child: General Comment No. 10: Children's Rights in Juvenile Justice (February 2007)
  

Previous Publication (general) items

• 15/05/2007: GENDER AND GIRLS: Because I am a Girl: The State of the World's Girls 2007
• 15/05/2007: ESPAÑA: Herramientas para combatir el bullying homofóbico
• 15/05/2007: VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN: A toolkit on positive discipline
• 14/05/2007: GEORGIA: Analysis of the juvenile system in Georgia
• 08/05/2007: ISRAEL: Violations of the Right to Life

Organisation Contact Details:

The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies
Centre for Crime and Justice Studies
Kings College London
26-29 Drury Lane
London WC2B 5RL
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)207 848 1688, Fax: +44 (0)207 848 1689 Email: ccjs.enq@kcl.ac.uk
Website: www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/rel/ccjs/index.html

Last updated 17/05/2007 06:44:02

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.