Glasgow's Restorative Justice Service, launched as a pilot in early 2002, has dealt with 500 young offenders, only five of whom have reoffended.
Strathclyde Police and Glasgow Council, which jointly run the scheme, have now made it a permanent fixture of youth justice work in the city.
A council spokesman said: "The Children's Panel lacked the resources to deal with young offenders committing more routine misdemeanours such as stealing car stereos. They were getting away with it because the resources weren't there."
The service, the first of its kind in Scotland, handles young offenders who are not regarded as "career criminals" and who have only committed relatively minor crimes.
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
