Youth justice report claims restorative justice would be more effective than courts
Joe Lepper
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The government is being urged to deal with the majority of young offenders in England and Wales through restorative justice conferences rather than the courts, in a report on youth justice hearings.
The report, called Time For A New Hearing, is based on an international comparison of how young offenders are dealt with and found that restorative justice conferences are more effective than courts in reducing reoffending.
They also save money in court time and the cost of custody as well as proving more effective in helping victims deal with their ordeal.
Compiled by human rights group Justice and the charity The Police Foundation for the Nuffield Foundation's Independent Commission on Youth Crime, the report also calls for an end to children and young people appearing in adult courts.
Under its proposals, restorative youth conferences would deal with cases where the young person has admitted the offence. Youth courts would be retained to deal with contested cases and serious cases that are currently held in the crown court.
Sally Ireland, Justice's director of criminal justice policy, said: "Restorative conferences, which have been so successful in Northern Ireland and around the world, offer the best chance to change behaviour in young offenders and improve the confidence of victims and wider public in the youth justice system.
"We believe that it is time for the government to act on the evidence and make this change as part of its intended reforms to sentencing."
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "The majority of youth cases are heard in specialised youth courts. However, where the offence is so serious that the case has to be referred to a Crown Court, such as with allegations of murder or sexual offences, the court will make every effort to adapt to ensure the needs of the young people involved are met.
"Children appearing in Crown Courts are not treated as adults and there are a range of measures available to help courts become more accessible. This includes allowing young victims and witnesses to give evidence from a separate room via video-link, judges and barristers removing their wigs to appear less intimidating and seating the judge on a lower level to be closer to young people’s eye-line."
The government has pledged to reform the justice system. Last month it launched a consultation surrounding its green paper Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders.
Greater use of restorative justice is among a number of options being considered. The deadline for submissions is 4 March.
