Youth Justice Board faces legal row over software
Neil Puffett
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Youth Justice Board (YJB) is set to start emergency talks with a leading IT company in an attempt to stave off a legal challenge.
CYP Now understands the IT firm CACI is considering taking legal action relating to new software the YJB is developing.
The case management system software will allow youth offending teams (YOTs) to analyse data on young offenders and is being developed by the YJB's Wiring Up Youth Justice team.
It is unclear on what basis CACI, which supplies two-thirds of YOTs with case management software, can launch the action. A spokeswoman refused to comment "for legal reasons".
But the YJB has revealed that talks will take place next month with CACI. Chief executive John Drew said: "The YJB is currently in discussions and I look forward to meeting with the chief executive of CACI in early September."
CACI's case management system, known as the Youth Offending Information System (YOIS), allows YOTs to submit data to the YJB on the children and young people they work with and analyse trends and outcomes relating to young offenders.
In June, a version of the new software being developed by the YJB was stolen from offices in London. Westminster Police is investigating the burglary and no arrests have been made.
