Youth

• Youth Justice System 1998-2011 (Strength)


  The YJS was good at helping young people in trouble because it focused on fixing their problems instead of just punishing them. It understood that young people have different needs and problems, so it used things like talking things out, getting the community involved, and special teams to help them.

  
  

  The YJS worked hard to stop young people from getting into trouble in the first place. It did things like helping kids who were having a tough time at school or with their families, so they wouldn't turn to crime.
• Youth Justice System 1998-2011 (Strength 2)


  The YJS didn't just deal with the crime. It helped with everything that might be causing it, like mental health, school, or finding a place to live. Lots of different groups worked together to make sure young people got all the help they needed.
• Youth Justice System 1998-2011 (Limitation)


  One big problem with the youth justice system (YJS) was that there were too many Black and Asian kids in it compared to other groups. People worried this might mean unfair treatment based on race, showing the need to make sure justice is fair for everyone.

  
  

  Lack of money made it hard to offer good services and help to young people who got into trouble. Because there wasn't enough cash for teams that help young offenders, programs to keep them out of trouble, and support services, it was tough to give them the right support at the right time.
• Youth Justice System 1998-2011 (limitation 2)


  Not Focused on Stopping Problems: Even though the YJS talked about stopping problems before they got worse, some folks said they didn't do enough about it. They believed more money and effort should go into stopping kids from getting into trouble in the first place by dealing with things like poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunities.
• Referral Order (Rehabilitation Focus)


  Referral Orders focus on helping young offenders change for the better rather than just punishing them.

  
  

  They provide opportunities for offenders to get help that's specifically designed to address their problems, like learning how to control anger, dealing with drug or alcohol issues, or getting extra support with schooling.

  
  

  This approach understands that many young people might have reasons behind their bad behavior that need fixing.
• Referral Order (Community Involvement)


  Referral Orders get the local community involved in helping young offenders turn their lives around.

  
  

  This means the offenders have to face up to what they've done within their own community, which can make them feel more responsible for their actions. It also means they can get support from people nearby, which makes it less likely they'll commit more crimes.
• Referral Order (Flexible Punishments)


  Referral Orders offer different ways to punish offenders that can be customized to fit each person's situation. This could mean doing community work to make up for what they've done wrong, or getting help to deal with why they committed the crime in the first place.

  
  

  
  

  Being flexible means they can deal with each case in a way that's fair and considers things like how bad the crime was and how much the offender is to blame.
• Referral Order (Limited Enforcement:)


  Referral Orders rely on the young person to follow the rules set by the court. But sometimes, they might not follow these rules because they don't feel like it or because of problems at home or pressure from friends.

  
  

  Without strong ways to make sure they follow the rules, Referral Orders might not work well, and young people might not face real consequences if they break the rules.
• Referral Order (Discretionary Nature, Limited Coverage)


  Whether someone gets a Referral Order depends on what the youth court thinks is best. Because it's up to the court, different courts might give different punishments for similar cases. This could make people feel like the justice system isn't fair or consistent.

  
  

  Referral Orders are only for young people who admit they did something wrong. So, if someone says they didn't do it or is fighting the charges, they can't get a Referral Order. This means some young people who might benefit from a Referral Order won't get the chance to have one.
• restorative justice(Helping People Feel Better)

  Restorative justice helps victims feel better by letting them talk about what happened and be part of making things right.

  
  

  
  

  For instance, if someone steals a bike, the victim and the thief might talk with someone to figure out how to fix things. The thief might say sorry and figure out how to make up for what they did, like giving back the bike or paying for it.
• restorative justice (Stopping Repeat Mistakes)


  Restorative justice can help stop people from doing bad things again. Instead of just punishing them, it helps them understand why they did wrong and take responsibility.

  
  

  For example, instead of going to jail, someone who did something wrong might talk with the people they hurt. This can make them realize what they did was wrong and decide not to do it again.
• Restorative Justice (Getting Communities Involved)


  Restorative justice gets communities to help fix problems caused by crime. This makes people feel like they're part of the solution.

  
  

  For example, people in a community might volunteer to help victims and offenders talk things out. This makes communities and the justice system trust each other more.
• Restorative Justice (Voluntary Participation)


  This means both the person who did something wrong and the person who was hurt have to agree to take part in fixing the problem. Sometimes, it's hard to get them to agree, which can make fixing things tricky.

  
  

  For example, if the person who got hurt doesn't want to talk because they're scared, we might have to use different ways to solve the problem. We might have to use regular ways of dealing with crime to make sure the person who did wrong is punished and the harm is addressed
• Restorative Justice (Resource Constraints)


  Making programs for fixing problems caused by crime needs a lot of things like trained people to help, support for the person who got hurt, and places to meet. Sometimes, there's not enough money or people to make these programs available to everyone who needs them, especially young people in trouble with the law.

  
  

  
  

  For example, in places where there's not enough money, only the most serious cases might get these programs, leaving out many young people who could benefit. This makes things unfair in the justice system.
• Restorative Justice (Complexity of Cases)


  Crime-related issues can't be resolved in the same way, especially for serious or violent crimes. To ensure safety and accountability, regular punishments may be necessary, ensuring the wrongdoer is held accountable and everyone involved is safe.

  
  

  For example, crimes involving gangs or sexual violence are really complicated, and trying to fix things together might make it worse for the person who got hurt. So, in these cases, we might have to use the normal ways of dealing with crime instead of trying to fix things together.
• Youth Caution (Avoiding Court)


  Youth cautions help young people who break the law avoid going to court. This is important because court can be scary and make them feel labeled as criminals, especially if it's their first time.

  
  

  By dealing with small crimes outside of court, cautions try to stop young people from getting a criminal record and give them a chance to learn from what they did wrong.
• Youth Caution (Quick and Easy, Avoiding Labels)


  Cautions are faster than court cases, so problems get solved faster. This helps save time and money for both young people and the justice system

  
  

  
  

  Cautions don't give you a criminal record, so they stop people from seeing you in a bad way because of that. This is really helpful for young people because it means they can keep going with their lives without a criminal record holding them back
• Youth Caution (Lack of Scary Consequences, Inconsistency)


  Some people think that giving young people cautions instead of taking them to court doesn't scare them enough to stop breaking the law. They might not feel motivated to change their behavior if they don't think they'll face serious punishment.

  
  

  Sometimes, police in different places don't use cautions the same way. This means people who do similar things might get different outcomes depending on where they are. This isn't fair and can make the justice system less effective.
• Youth Caution (Not Enough Responsibility)


  When cautions are given without going to court, some people worry that there's not enough clearness and responsibility in how it's done.

  
  

  Because there's no judge or formal legal process involved, there's a chance that the decisions about cautions could be influenced by personal opinions or unfair preferences.
• Youth Rehabilitation Order (Community, Flexibility)


  The YRO prioritizes supporting young offenders within their neighborhoods and support groups, allowing them to stay connected to their families, schools, and other supportive individuals, thereby facilitating their recovery and reintegration back into society.

  
  

  The Youth Role Organizing (YRO) provides tailored solutions for young people, allowing them to meet with a youth team, participate in activities to rectify their actions, or engage in community service, ensuring personalized assistance tailored to each individual's needs.
• Youth Rehabilitation Order (Reduced Risk of Reoffending)

  Studies show that programs like the YRO can help young offenders stay out of trouble after they've been in trouble before.

  
  

  By dealing with the reasons why they got in trouble and giving them support and direction, the YRO aims to help them change their lives for the better and steer clear of more trouble.
• Youth Rehabilitation Order (Stigma)


  Even though the Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO) aims to help young people get back on track, some people might still see it as a mark of being a criminal.

  
  

  This could make it hard for young offenders who get YROs to fit in or be treated fairly by others. It might also make it tough for them to become a part of society again and live good, law-abiding lives.
• Youth Rehabilitation Order (Not Enough for Serious Offenders)


  While the YRO might work well for young people who have done less serious crimes, it might not be strong enough for those who have done more serious or repeated crimes.

  
  

  
  

  Some people say that these young offenders might need tougher punishments, like being sent to jail or staying in secure places, to stop them from committing more crimes and keep others safe.