The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Youth Justice Service is responsible for statutory youth justice services. It works with partners to prevent offending and re-offending by children aged 10-17. It must also provide an 'appropriate adult' for children aged 10-17 who are in police custody. The service is a multi agency partnership, overseen by the Youth Justice Board.
The Youth Justice Service was established by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. It is a partnership between:
Cornwall Council
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Council of the Isles of Scilly
Devon and Cornwall Police
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Partnership
National Probation Service
National Youth Justice Board
Youth Justice Board
The service is overseen by the local Youth Justice Board. The Board is chaired by a Chief Officer, and includes a group of the Senior Officers from the partner agencies above. It has three national priority and performance indicators. These are reported to the National Youth Justice Board on a quarterly basis. They are:
Reducing the numbers of young people entering the criminal justice system for the first time (FTEs)
Reducing reoffending
Reducing the use of custody
What the Youth Justice Service does
Referral to the service is by:
Police - Out of Court Disposals (OOCD)
Youth Courts and Crown Courts
Anti-social behaviour (ASB)
Prevention
Download the Youth Justice Plan 2024-2027
Understanding youth offending
Most children in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly do not offend.
We know that children coming we work with have more complex levels of need. These relate to neurodiversity, education and mental health and well being. Many of them have adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Research shows that ACEs are common in children who encounter Youth Justice Services.
Nationally, the way professionals work with these children has been changing. We recognise that children who offend are often vulnerable and in need of support rather than punishment. Because of this, the youth justice partnership in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has changed the way it works. It now aims to address the underlying causes of offending behaviour and help children to achieve positive outcomes. It does this though holistic and trauma informed interventions.
It does this though holistic and trauma informed interventions. Research shows that the best way to achieve this is through
early intervention
prevention
interventions to divert children away from the formal criminal justice system whenever possible
using restorative practices that promote accountability and empathy
Children as victims of crime
We know the majority of children we work with will have been victims themselves. This may be abuse, neglect including domestic abuse and / or some kind of violence.
Young People Cornwall run a Victim of Crime project. This can provide emotional and practical help for any young person who has experienced a crime, whether they have reported it or not. It offers around six weeks of support with a youth worker, and can extend to the wider family if needed.