Youth justice - Alternatives to custody retain prominent focus

With a general election expected within six months and concern rife about the impact of the recession, youth justice practitioners descended on Southport with much to discuss.

Policy ideas from the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and the major political parties were given an airing, while the imminent introduction of the Scaled Approach and the Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO) also received prominent attention.

But as the dust settles from the convention, what is set to change and are there any barriers?

Restorative justice

One area that looks odds-on for expansion in England and Wales is restorative justice. The concept emerged as a key theme of the convention, with the YJB and politicians across the spectrum highlighting it as a way of reducing reoffending and changing attitudes in wider society. The idea is nothing new but a study last month by the Prison Reform Trust showing big falls in reoffending rates in Northern Ireland has added further weight to the argument.