1. ISLE OF WIGHT SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BOARD
Adolescents and the Criminal Justice System
Alison Smailes, Head of Service
Lisa Morgan, Operational Team Manager
Isle of Wight Youth Offending Team

2. www.iowscb.org.uk www.twitter.com/IOWSCB
Outline:
Who are they? – perception and reality, troubled or troubling?
National picture and trends – the Youth Justice System
Local Isle of Wight picture and initiatives

3. 'Hoodies, louts, scum': how media demonises teenagers
yobs
'Hoodies, louts, scum': how media demonises teenagers
thugs
out of control
evil
monsters
feral
‘Devils or Angels – perpetrators or victims?’
menacing
brutal
LM develops this further when looking at who these children are later.
tearaway
frightening
threatening

4. www.iowscb.org.uk www.twitter.com/IOWSCB
The Youth Justice System
Works to prevent offending and reoffending by children young people under the age of 18
Multi- agency Youth Offending partnerships to achieve outcomes in three key areas:
Reduce first time entrants into the system
Reduce reoffending
Reduce the number of children in custody

5. www.iowscb.org.uk www.twitter.com/IOWSCB
National picture
Child arrests in England and Wales fall by 59% in five years
(Howard League, 10/10/16)

6. www.iowscb.org.uk www.twitter.com/IOWSCB
First time entrants
82% reduction since 2006/7 peak
Reasons – OBTJ and prevention/diversion

7. www.iowscb.org.uk www.twitter.com/IOWSCB
Reducing custody
10-17 year olds sentenced down 70% since 2005/06
Average population reduced by 65% since 2008/09 peak
The pros and the cons: Disproportionality issue – mention
Also the issue re placement distance (esp island impact)

8. www.iowscb.org.uk www.twitter.com/IOWSCB
Reducing reoffending
General increase in the reoffending rate since 2008
In the cohort ending March 2014, 38% reoffended within 12 months, with an average of 3.12 reoffences per reoffender
Cohort size reducing every year since 2007, as is the number of reoffenders and the number of reoffences

9. www.iowscb.org.uk www.twitter.com/IOWSCB
Local Picture
IOW YOT Caseload Snapshot- September 2016:
86% were boys, and 14% were girls (previously has been 75%/25%)
 33% were subject to an Out of Court Disposal, and 67% to a Court Order.
Variety of offences including: criminal damage, violent behaviour, harmful sexual behaviour, dishonesty and non-compliance with previous Court Orders.
AGE 10 0%
AGE 11
Age 12
AGE 13 5%
AGE 14
10%
AGE 15
23%
AGE 16
31%
AGE 17
16%
AGE 18
15%

10. www.iowscb.org.uk www.twitter.com/IOWSCB
Impact of words/phrases
Challenging, difficult and a nuisance?
Distracting, disruptive and don’t care?
Refusing to listen, failing to understand and making their own choices?
How would this feel?

11. www.iowscb.org.uk www.twitter.com/IOWSCB
Adolescent Offending
Theories of youth crime
Stages of adolescent development
Child’s voice?
Unmet need?

12. www.iowscb.org.uk www.twitter.com/IOWSCB
Caseload Snapshot September 2016
At least 35% have experienced some form of abuse.
38% were assessed as presenting with concerns in relation to emotional wellbeing and/or mental health (some of whom were already known to CCAMHS).
At least 44% have parents who have experienced difficulties with substance misuse, mental health and/or domestic abuse.
56% are currently, or have previously, been known to Children’s Social Care as CIN, CP or LAC
63% were noted as having additional needs which would impact on their access to ETE or were not accessing ETE at all

13. www.iowscb.org.uk www.twitter.com/IOWSCB
Current Local Initiatives
Youth Crime Prevention
‘Triage’
Reducing Criminalisation of Children in Care
Youth to Adult Transitions (Y2A)
RJ – voice of victim

14. www.iowscb.org.uk www.twitter.com/IOWSCB
Multi-agency working
Recognise
Reflect
Respond