EUKN - United Kingdom - Evaluation of the Airdrie and Hamilton Youth Court pilots

Evaluation of the Airdrie and Hamilton Youth Court pilots

Introduction

An evaluation of the pilot scheme of Youth Courts introduced in Hamilton in 2003 and in Airdrie in 2004 and intended for young people who would otherwise have been dealt with in the adult Sheriff Summary Court.

Description

The evaluation explains that the Youth Courts aim to :

reduce the frequency and seriousness of re-offending by sixteen and seventeen year old offenders,
to promote social inclusion,
to establish fast-track procedures,
to enhance community safety.

It sets out the process of referral to the Youth Court, the criteria employed for identifying potential suitable cases, and the characteristics of young people referred. It describes:

the progress of cases through the Youth Court,
the sentences imposed,
the services provided,
the review of Youth Court Orders.

It also considers:

Youth Court outcomes,
including changes in sentencing and recorded crime,
professional perspectives on its effectiveness,
re-offending among young people sentenced in the Youth Courts,
and in comparator courts serving similar populations.

The costs of the Youth Courts are examined.

Background information

The objectives of the pilot Youth Courts were:

to reduce the frequency and seriousness of re-offending,
to promote social inclusion,
citizenship and personal responsibility,
to establish fast track procedures,
to enhance community safety,
to test the viability and usefulness of a Youth Court.

Methodology

A range of qualitative and quantitative methods were drawn upon, including:

an analysis of marking decisions by Procurators Fiscal,
analysis of cases prosecuted in the Youth Courts,
analysis of data provided by the Scottish Children’s Reporters Association,
analysis of social work data,
interviews with professionals,
interviews with young people,
observation of the Youth Court in operation,
analysis of the progress of Airdrie Sheriff Summary cases,
analysis of documents,
a survey of community attitudes to youth crime,
analysis of sentencing patterns following the introduction of the Youth Courts,
analysis of changes in recorded crime,
monitoring the progress of young people under supervision,
and analysis of reconviction data.

Conclusions

The Hamilton and Airdrie Sheriff Youth Court pilots have been successful in meeting the objectives set for them and their particular strengths include:

the fast-tracking of young people to and through the court,
the reduction in trials,
the availability of a wider range of resources and services for young people and ongoing judicial review.

Effective teamwork among the relevant agencies and professionals added to the success of the pilot. There appeared to be good information sharing, liaison and communication across the agencies involved.

The researchers highlighted two issues for further consideration:

whether Youth Courts should be more explicitly youth focused,
and the need for greater clarity regarding which young offenders the Youth Courts are intended for.

Contact info

Scottish Executive Social Research
Phone: +44 131 244 3759
srinternet@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Publication date

Project finished

01/04/2006

Researcher

Department of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling; Stewart Dunlop; Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde; TNS Social Research

Article info
ISBN: 0755960807

Links

Visit the Scottish Executive Social Research website to download reports on this subject

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Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Security & crime prevention > Tackling crime

Keywords

Working with offenders