White children are more likely to benefit from youth diversion programmes that divert those who have committed low level offences away from the formal youth justice system, say the academics at Manchester Metropolitan and Bedfordshire universities.
Their research found that when decisions about using diversionary schemes were made solely by police and courts, “racial disproportionality and geographical disparities” increased.
“More and more children are being diverted away from the formal youth justice system, but this appears to be benefiting white children more than black and mixed heritage children,” said Manchester Metropolitan university lecturer Dr Anne Marie-Day.
Youth justice professionals need to be consulted “to better inform decisions and ensure more children are offered” diversion programme places, according to researchers.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
