Children and young people in custody

Justice Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 2 Jun 2020 Closed: 29 Apr 2021 Parliament page
Read an interactive summary of the key points of our first report on entry into the youth justice system. Read an interactive summary of the key points of our second report on the youth secure estate and resettlement.
38 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
2 Reports
13 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 17 events
8 Sep
2021
Correspondence
28 Apr
2021
Correspondence
19 Apr
2021
Report published
10 Feb
2021
Report published
10 Feb
2021
Report published
12 Nov
2020
Report published
9 Sep
2020
Correspondence
23 Jul
2020
Correspondence
21 Jul
2020
Correspondence
21 Jul
2020
Correspondence
21 Jul
2020
Correspondence
21 Jul
2020
Correspondence
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
6 Recommendation Rejected
12th Report: Children and Young Pe…
There is significant support for diversion and demand for informal, non-statutory services.
There is significant support for diversion and demand for informal, non-statutory services. For diversion schemes to function well, they need to be sufficiently funded. Investment in upstream service provision should be prioritised. We recommend that the Ministry of Justice work … Read more
Government Response
The government states it has no current plans to review YOT funding levels, rejecting the recommendation. However, it acknowledges the importance of pre-court diversionary work and mentions ongoing efforts to gather data and better understand such work through a YJB project.
Ministry of Justice
View details
9 Conclusion Rejected
12th Report: Children and Young Pe…
The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is a contentious issue with substantial...
The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is a contentious issue with substantial arguments in favour both of the status quo age of 10 and an increase in that age. We are not persuaded that it should be … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the idea of reviewing the age of criminal responsibility, stating it has no current plans to do so and believes the current age of 10 is appropriate for children to differentiate between bad and serious wrongdoing.
Ministry of Justice
View details
10 Recommendation Rejected
12th Report: Children and Young Pe…
We recommend that the Ministry review the age of criminal responsibility, considering the data available...
We recommend that the Ministry review the age of criminal responsibility, considering the data available from Scotland and from broadly comparable European and other jurisdictions in which the age is higher than 10 at which it stands in England and … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation to review the age of criminal responsibility, stating it has no plans to change it and believes children aged 10 and over can differentiate between bad and serious wrongdoing.
Ministry of Justice
View details
16 Recommendation Rejected
12th Report: Children and Young Pe…
Referral Orders may be appropriate in some circumstances, but there appears to be consensus that...
Referral Orders may be appropriate in some circumstances, but there appears to be consensus that more flexible sentencing options would be beneficial. We recommend that the Ministry of Justice review current sentencing options for children with a view to introducing … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects a review of sentencing options for first-time offenders, stating that Referral Orders already provide an effective tool and are more effective at reducing reoffending than Youth Rehabilitation Orders. It does not believe there is evidence to warrant a review.
Ministry of Justice
View details
19 Recommendation Rejected
12th Report: Children and Young Pe…
Under the principle that punishments should fit crimes, we are concerned that children who turn...
Under the principle that punishments should fit crimes, we are concerned that children who turn 18 while waiting for proceedings against them to begin are then dealt with and sentenced as adults. In particular, this is alarming when it happens … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects legislating to automatically deal with those who turn 18 in the youth justice system, arguing that age and maturity are already considered in sentencing and that efforts are underway to clear court backlogs and prioritise youth cases.
Ministry of Justice
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 45 of 38 classified
Accepted 21
Accepted in Part 4
Acknowledged 9
Deferred 6
Rejected 5
Total 38 recs + 7 conclusions
Correspondence 13 letters
8 Sep 2021 To committee Letter from Alex Chalk MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, dated 31 August 2021, regarding update on Report on Children and Young people in custody
Parliament page
28 Apr 2021 To committee Letter from Alex Chalk MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, dated 26 April 2021, regarding Children and Young People in Custody (part 2)
Parliament page
9 Sep 2020 Written evidence from Magistrates Association
Parliament page
23 Jul 2020 Written evidence from The Association of Youth Offending Team Managers
Parliament page
21 Jul 2020 Written evidence from JUSTICE
Parliament page
21 Jul 2020 Written evidence from Youth Justice Board
Parliament page
21 Jul 2020 Written evidence from UK National Preventive Mechanism
Parliament page
21 Jul 2020 Written evidence from Royal College of Psychiatrists
Parliament page
21 Jul 2020 Written evidence from EQUAL
Parliament page
15 Jul 2020 Written evidence from the Children's Commissioner
Parliament page
8 Jul 2020 Written evidence from Royal College of Psychiatrists
Parliament page
24 Jun 2020 To committee Letter from Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State for Justice, dated 17 June 2020 on Secure Schools Programme
Parliament page
23 Jun 2020 To committee Letter from Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State for Justice, dated 17 June 2020, on Youth Custody Reports
Parliament page