Promoting Community Sentences Frances Done Chair, Youth Justice Board 6th July 2011

Youth Justice Board’s Strategic Objectives Prevent offending Reduce offending Protect the public and support victims Promote the safety and welfare of children and young people in the criminal justice system

Young people in the Criminal Justice System Change Sentenced by the courts91,480 73, % Custodial sentences 7,414 4, % Community sentences 35,972 47, % Source:

Source: April 2011 data

Reconviction rates for young people 2000 and (%)2009 (%) Referral Order* Community penalty Custody Binary reconviction rates from young people in England and Wakes. * Data for Referral orders relates to 2002, the first year this data is available. Source: Table A5

Frequency of reoffending by young people The frequency of re-offending by juveniles has also fallen – by 27% since 2000, and 3% since Source: Table A5

Maximising the use of community sentences Key Factors: Sentencing guidelines Availability of suitable and flexible and robust sentences Achieving the confidence of sentencers Ensuring young people have the support they need to fulfil the requirements of their community sentence

Green paper on Justice – Opportunities Improving the flexibility of the Referral Order – focus on restorative justice Focus on preventing breach of community sentences - compliance panels Reducing unnecessary use of remand and transferring costs of secure remands to local authorities Securely remanded young people will become Looked After Children Youth justice reinvestment (custody) pathfinders

Promotion of Community Sentences – Concerns Potential for budget pressures to reduce availability/flexibility of community sentences Potential for loss of central focus and oversight on community/custody issue

Promoting Community Sentences Frances Done Chair, Youth Justice Board 6th July 2011