The Justice Committee, chaired by Sir Alan Beith MP, decided to hold a short inquiry, following its earlier report on the proposed abolition of the Youth Justice Board, which aims to examine the extent to which the youth justice system in England and Wales is fulfilling its principal aim of preventing offending by young people.
Specifically, the inquiry explored:
- The targeting of resources, including the ability of youth offending teams and their multi-agency partners to operate effectively in the current economic climate, and early findings from the Youth Justice Pathfinder Initiatives.
- The use and effectiveness of available disposals, including restorative justice and custody as a last resort.
- The role of the youth justice system in diverting at-risk young people away from first-time offending.
- The evidence base for preventing offending and reducing re-offending and the extent to which this informs interventions in custody and the community.
- The governance of the youth justice system, including the removal of joint responsibility from the former Department for Children, Schools and Families.
- The extent to which the system is able to meet the needs of all offenders regardless of age, gender, ethnicity and mental health.