Figures obtained by CYP Now last week highlight the huge differences in child custody rates across England and Wales.
The Youth Justice Board (YJB) statistics, which are yet to be officially published, go some way to revealing the success - or lack of - that youth offending teams (YOTs) have in convincing magistrates to opt for community sentences.
Among a number of success stories is Surrey (see box) where, during 2008/09, there were 22 custodial sentences in the county out of 1,315 convictions - or 1.7 per cent. This is well below the national average this year of 6.2 per cent. It compares with 31 custodial sentences out of 1,463 convictions in 2007/08 - a ratio of 2.1 per cent.
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
