It adds that the available sentences in youth courts, such as the Youth Rehabilitation Order, have grown to resemble those available in the adult court.
"Some requirements forming part of community orders have been provided in statute but without adequate funding, so that examples of excellent community programmes such as intensive fostering are available in theory but rarely in practice," the submission states.
The submission calls for children to be dealt with in front of trained youth magistrates in all but the most serious cases and for an entirely new approach to dealing with children under the age of 15, who account for just 29 per cent of offences committed by juveniles.
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
