Brian Dack Assistant Director Irish Youth Justice Conference
Management of Offenders Offender Assessment Prisoners, Risk & Resettlement Community Services Young Persons Probation The Courts Service The Courts Service Irish Prison Service Sex Offenders Multi Agency Group (Homelessness) Community Service Orders Community Projects / Voluntary Sector Irish Youth Justice Service Cosc Police Service (An Garda Síochána) Office of the Minister for Children Offender Supervision Police Service (An Garda Síochána)
Some Principles of Children Act Criminal proceedings not to be used for care and protection Education, training, employment Relationships between children/parents/families Enabling parents Children residing in own homes
Other Principles (contd.) Detention as last resort Consideration of a child’s age and level of maturity. Due regard for interest of victims
Community Sanctions and other orders Residential Supervision Training or Activities Intensive Supervision Day Centre Mentor Order Suitable Person Restriction of movement Dual Order (Probation & restriction or Day centre & restriction) Community Service (16<18) Detention and Supervision Parental Supervision
Evidenced - Based Practice Evidence-based principles form the basis of effective supervision (risk/need) Organisational development is required Collaboration with stakeholders is essential
Risk/Need Assessments Education/employment Peer relations Substance abuse Personality/behaviour Attitudes/orientation Leisure/recreation Prior/current offences
Setting up Young Persons Probation Planning/projecting/costs Family Conferencing Training Community Sanctions infrastructure Dedicated hubs Specialist staff training
Community Projects (20 YPP) Education and Training Mentoring Addiction and counselling services Day Centres Outreach Adventure Sports
Mentoring Le Cheile Mentoring National Offender and Parent Mentoring Pro-social modelling Volunteers Training and Support
Mentoring Statistics 2009 YearSessionsMentorsCases (this equates to 2284 hours) 13090
Young Persons Probation Statistics 2008 Pre-sanction reports 958 Supervision Orders 725 Family Conference referrals 35
2008 (1st 6 Months) No.% Total # of Community Sanctions % Total Number of Detention % Other Outcomes From Court % Supervised Adjournments 449.8% 2009 (1st 6 Months) No.% Total # of Community Sanctions % Total Number of Detention 55 10% Other Outcomes From Court 93 17% Supervised Adjournments 15729%
Attendance at Funded Projects 2008 – daily average – 115 young people 2009 – daily average – 217 young people
Challenges Too many community sanctions. Develop an integrated joint up approach with partners at policy/operational level. Strengthen & develop evidence based practice to enhance effective assessment and supervision of young people. Continue to be innovative in our response to working with young people in the current economic climate. To develop a multi agency response to youth offending in collaboration with all agencies working in the Youth Justice area.