Judges to receive training on how to deal with young people

Crown court judges dealing with young people will receive
special training under new proposals published alongside the
children’s green paper, writes Natasha
Salari.

‘Youth Justice – The Next Steps’, sets out plans to reform
the youth justice system over the next few years. Selecting and
training judges to specialise in youth cases is one of the
proposals being put out to consultation as part of the sweeping
transformation of children’s services.

Other youth justice proposals put forward as part of the green
paper include:    

– Developing a Young Defendants’ Pack to help young people
and their carers understand and participate in the court
process.

– Providing parenting programmes for young offenders who are
parents, engaging fathers, ensuring both parents attend court and
that courts consider a parenting order where they fail to
attend.

– Assigning youth offending team officers or other professionals
to prepare young defendants and their carers for court
hearings.

– Making the main purpose of sentencing to prevent offending and
simplifying the range of juvenile sentences.

Youth Justice – The Next Steps