Opinion: Hot issue - Is the youth justice system racist towardsyoung people?

YES - Darren Johnson, diversity policy lead, Association of Youth Offending Team Managers

All the research and evidence to date clearly suggests this to be true.

This is reflected in the over-representation of Black offenders in custody, the dispropor- tionate use of stop and search against Black young people, and the rate of acquittals from crown court for Black defendants.

However, this does not imply the system is deliberately racist. It is what is commonly called "institutionally racist". So what can we do about it? I would ask myself this: as a practitioner or manager working with young people, do I have the skills, knowledge and experience to work with, or deliver services to, any Black or minority person if they were to come through our door? If the answer is "no" then you need to do something about it. This will increasingly be a reality for all persons working with young people, irrespective of where in the country they work. The label of "good practitioner" or "good manager" will increasingly apply to those who are effective at working with all young people from any ethnic background.