Study links trauma to offending
Derren Hayes
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Study of young offenders in West Midlands prompts plans to redesign youth justice and support systems.
A new report based on research with dozens of young people involved in the criminal justice system has put forward a set of bold recommendations to radically change how public agencies in the West Midlands support children that have experienced trauma.
Punishing Abuse, written by Dr Alex Chard, visiting lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire, argues that many children in the youth justice system are being punished as a consequence of their earlier adverse childhood experiences of loss, abuse and adversity.
The findings are based on a study of 80 children from 11 local authorities in the West Midlands, many of whom had experienced mental health problems, violence and abuse, problems at school, poverty and health conditions (see graphics). Just one of the 80 children studied was found to have experienced no abuse or adversity.
The project was undertaken with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and youth offending teams from the region, all of whom have backed the study findings and pledged to take forward many of the recommendations (see below).
The recommendations call for more ambition and investment in prevention services so that children and families where offending is a problem can be helped earlier – this includes reducing the use of exclusions, improving parenting support and adopting policies that minimise the criminalisation of children in care.
Chard argues that investment will achieve social and economic returns, with the cost of inaction being considerable for society and individuals.
“Poverty, disadvantage and social exclusion, linked with failure to address their needs, creates a conveyor belt which propels vulnerable children towards exploitation and crime,” he says.
Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, says the report “sets out some of the terrible experiences children in the criminal justice system have faced growing up”.
He adds: “This report identifies a clear link between children and teenagers suffering from abuse, violence, and poverty, and then going on to commit criminal offences. It is therefore imperative that these underlying causes are addressed, and there is a serious amount of collaborative hard work needed to make that happen.”
PUNISHING ABUSE
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES AND YOUTH JUSTICE AGENCIES
The report proposes significant reform of both the local youth justice system and wider services. Punishing Abuse includes proposals for a renewed focus on developing the region’s youth justice services, starting with greater support and scrutiny of current practice through the development of regional mechanisms to include more joined-up responses with schools and mental health services.
“We are seeking a remodeling of the way children within the criminal justice system are treated, with the potential for decriminalisation of children who commit lower-level seriousness offences such as non-violent or non-sexual offences and the full application of existing guidance to prevent criminalising children in care,” the report states.
A key factor in delivering this reform is to devolve youth justice powers as part of the West Midlands devolution deal, which was submitted to the government last August. This would put in place a “single, integrated service for vulnerable young people, youth custody and a framework for safeguarding older children”, the report states.
Early help provision
The WMCA and PCC are also developing plans to work with the region’s local authorities to develop a business case to government for more funding to boost early help provision and invest in children’s centres and schools to tackle the attainment gap.
In addition, WMCA wants to enhance its ability to monitor and oversee school exclusion practice and policies through the introduction of new statutory powers. This will include a further specific duty to support maintained and state-funded schools in reducing exclusions “with a target of eradicating school exclusions or providing comprehensive whole-family support to children excluded in extreme cases”.
The region also hopes to secure funding in the autumn Spending Review to develop the West Midlands Safe Centre, a purpose-built facility that will be used for court-ordered secure care and custody for children, with the aim that it will be used for a short period to boost stability and self-esteem.
Other reforms already planned in the West Midlands include:
- The PCC is developing plans for an intensive secure fostering service with a focus on “relational models” as an alternative to children being sentenced to custody.
- The PCC is scoping the development of problem-solving courts to support young people away from crime. A plan to engage with stakeholders is currently being developed.
- The development of a diversion hub, where officers think “diversion first”, with the aim of increasing the numbers of out-of-court disposals and use of diversion schemes.
Being involved in the project has also enabled a deeper understanding of children’s needs, and of the risks they may present, among professionals, the report states. In addition, it has yielded positive outcomes for children across the West Midlands, including a reduction in breach rates, numbers receiving custodial sentences and improved educational outcomes.
Chard says: “I hope that this report will empower West Midlands agencies to make a real difference in this area by enabling practitioners to better respond to such harmed and troubled children, by transforming agency systems to improve the lives of children who offend and the wellbeing of their families, and by helping to change the underlying structural factors that have impacted so adversely on these vulnerable children.”
- Punishing Abuse from Punishing Abuse Final (westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk)