Legislation and policy has in recent years blurred the boundariesbetween adult and young people's systems. As a result care needs to beexercised to ensure policies relating to reducing offending by youngpeople identify their specific needs in the appropriate context.
The fact that the Welsh Assembly Government and Youth Justice Board areworking together in a variety of fora means focus is being placed on theissues affecting young people in the criminal justice system inWales.
The issues surrounding the placement of many Welsh young people in thesecure estate in England is a key example. In its strategy for thesecure estate, the Youth Justice Board has established a working groupwith the Welsh Assembly Government to consider how the needs of Welshyoung people can best be met, which, subject to the necessary funding,could mean the development of a mixed range of appropriate accommodationin Wales.
With regard to the relevant pathways, which are important for youngpeople supervised by the youth offending teams, the All Wales YouthOffending Strategy set a series of targets, notably in respect ofeducation, employment, health, substance misuse and housing in additionto the universal entitlements young people in Wales should receivethrough Extending Entitlement.
The issues addressed in Joining Together in Wales are well documented,but what remains to be seen is if the all Wales strategy will have anyoperational effectiveness in improving outcomes for young people inWales.
Susan Thomas, senior policy development officer, Nacro Cymru.
