There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.

(Nelson Mandela, 1995)

We are committed to reviewing, developing and promoting the evidence base for high-quality youth justice services. We use both research and inspection findings to:

• inform our understanding of what helps and what hinders youth justice services
• develop our inspection programmes, guidance and effective practice products
• consider system-wide change that could change children’s lives for the better and help keep everyone safe.

Across the following pages, we summarise key research findings, presenting them as concisely as possible.

Introduction

Find out why we have published this evidence and how you can use this information.

General models and principles

Find out about the key insights and concepts that underpin high-quality youth justice services.

• Child friendly justice
• Social-ecological framework
• Relationship-based practice framework
• Child First
• Other generic models and principles

Organisational delivery

Find out more about how a youth justice service’s organisational set-up contributes to high-quality delivery and positive outcomes.

• Governance and leadership
• Staff
• Partnerships and services
• Information and facilities

Supervision

Find out more about the factors that contribute to high-quality supervision when working with children.

• Assessment
• Planning
• Implementation and delivery
• Reviewing

Specific areas of delivery

Find out more about specific areas where support is required to help children to desist from offending and change their lives for the better.

• Education, training and employment
• Family relationships
• Lifestyle and peer relationships
• Substance misuse
• Mental health
• Adversity and trauma

Specific types of delivery

Find out more about specific types of delivery, covering the work of youth justice services at different stages.

• Prevention
• Diversion
• Out-of-court disposals
• Youth courts
• Safeguarding – overview
• Safeguarding – child criminal exploitation
• Safeguarding – child sexual exploitation
• Enhanced case management
• Electronic monitoring
• Resettlement work
• Youth to adult transitions

Specific sub-groups

Find out more about some of the differing sub-groups of children within the youth justice system.

• Girls
• Ethnic minorities
• Children with care experience
• Children displaying violent behaviour
• Children involved in urban street gangs
• Children displaying harmful sexual behaviour

Next: Introduction

Last updated: 19 July 2024