Scottish government publishes Youth Justice Strategy

Claire Haughey

Key priorities in the strategy include:

• continuing to drive the successful whole system approach to preventing offending, considering expansion beyond 18 up to 26.
• where possible and appropriate, no under 18s detained in custody
• working towards raising the age of referral to the Principal Reporter to age 18 for all children
• providing help early on to children and families at risk of entering the justice system – addressing mental health and wellbeing needs
• upholding the rights of all children, supporting participation and engagement, and taking in to consideration and addressing speech, language and communication needs
• ensuring person-centred, tailored support for child victims – making sure their rights are upheld, providing access to restorative justice for child victims
• gathering and analysing data and evidence to inform policy and practice

Minister for children and young people Claire Haughey said: “I am pleased to announce the publication of our Youth Justice Vision and Action Plan which will support children and young people in conflict with the law and assist those working with children and young people in need.

“Our new vision represents a shared foundation between the Scottish Government, key partners and children and families to ensure the rights of children in Scotland are protected and upheld.

“Our action plan is born from the views of children and young people themselves and will continue to promote an approach where they are fully supported to deal with the causes and effects of their behaviour, in turn assisting them on their journey towards the positive destinations that we all want for them.” 

COSLA children and young people spokesperson councillor Stephen McCabe said: “Putting rights at the centre of the Scotland Youth Justice system is a critical part of making sure that every child and young person get the support they need when they need it. Children and young people do come into conflict with the law and it is essential that we do all we can to prevent this happening in the first place.

“When it does happen it is vital that support is in place to ensure that they have the opportunity to move out of and away from the justice system which can only benefit them and those around them. The Vision and Action Plan are a clear articulation of how we all need to work in a multi-agency, whole system way for the benefit of children and young people.”

Chief executive of the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration Neil Hunter said: “The Youth Justice Vision and Action Plan is a refreshing, forward-looking and progressive restatement of Scotland’s commitment to a child-centred, welfare-based and outcome-focused approach to helping children and young people in conflict with the law.

“It is a modernised and contemporary restatement of our collective commitment to the Kilbrandon principles which 50 or more years on still guide us. While we are all entering a really complex policy and practice landscape over the next couple of years the Youth Justice vision and the associated actions have been stripped back to allow us to clearly understand what our focus and priorities need to be during this time.”