Judge selection for youth cases mooted

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

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.

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. Youth offending team officers or other professionals could
also be assigned to prepare young defendants and carers for court
hearings.

– Youth Justice – The Next Steps from www.dfes.gov.uk/everychildmatters