Contemporary Youth Justices

Question 1

What is the age of criminal responsibility in the UK

Answer 1

10

Question 2

What age do you have full control over judgement

Answer 2

25

Question 3

Characteristics of children in contact with the CJS

Answer 3

BAME overrepresented
Typically from working class backgrounds
Mostly male
80% are males ages 15-17

Question 4

What if different in youth court compared to adult court

Answer 4

Less use of judicial language
Do not use defendants name
No picture permitted to be published
If victim wishes to observe proceedings they must submit a request

Question 5

Within sentencing young people, what may lead to rigid, unequal or unequipped sentencing? Give examples

Answer 5

Competing principles such as serious offences, mitigating circumstances, welfare & previous offences

Question 6

What are YOTS

Answer 6

Youth offending teams

Question 7

What are YOTS functions

Answer 7

Assessment of young people for rehabilitation programmes
Support for those remanded in custody or bail
Court reports and assessments
Supervision for those sentences to community orders

Question 8

When were YOTS introduced

Answer 8

1988 crime and disorder act

Question 9

What are the 3 types of secure estate

Answer 9

Youth offenders institute
Secure children’s homes
Secure training centres

Question 10

Key information about youth offenders institutes

Answer 10

15-17 year old boys, large scale, like adult prisons, up to 300, cheap compared to others (£180 a night), adult/child ratio 1:10

Question 11

What is the difference between secure children’s homes and secure training centres

Answer 11

Secure children’s homes ages 10-17 but training centres 12-17
Children’s homes hold smaller amounts of children

Question 12

Girls in custody are twice as likely to….

Answer 12

Commit suicide

Question 13

BAME girls are more likely to be….

Answer 13

Assaulted by staff