Youth justice minister Crisping Blunt revealed he is examining the Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO), introduced by the previous Labour government as a way of giving magistrates greater confidence in community sentencing.
Speaking at a Conservative conference fringe event on community alternatives to custody for young people, Blunt said magistrates currently make decisions on which of the YRO’s 18 sentencing options are suitable, based on pre-sentence reports compiled by YOTs.
He said professionals should be trusted to make decisions on an offender’s needs based on their assessments and the quality of services available locally.
"I think it would be better if the sentencer decided the balance between punishment, rehabilitation and protection of the public, which will differ according to issues around every young offender.
"For first-time offenders that should be heavily balanced towards rehabilitation. But should that rehabilitation order be rigid at the point of sentence?
"Once rehabilitation has been identified, the offender’s manager could decide the best rehabilitation package to be assembled for the individual.
"There are going to be a whole variety of issues."
