The Centre for Social Justice, set up by Work and Pensions Secretary Ian Duncan-Smith, warns that the youth justice system is operating as a backstop, "sweeping up the problem cases that other services have failed, or been unable, to address".
It argues that changes to prevention services, court procedure, community sentences, the secure estate, inspection regimes, resettlement services and youth justice training must be made to improve prospects for children in trouble with the law.
The report, compiled by a series of experts including former Youth Justice Board chair Rod Morgan, also makes a fresh call for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised, echoing similar calls in recent months.
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