Findings from the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime, due to be released yesterday, suggest that the agencies responsible for bringing young offenders into the system have an influence on the amount of crime a young person commits.
Lesley McAra, co-director of the study, said: "Contact with a youth justice system at any level is fundamentally damaging to young people. We recommend minimal intervention."
The research does suggests young people kept under observation by law enforcement agencies are much more likely to commit crimes. McAra said this was in addition to the fact that as previous offenders they have "form".
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