Youth Justice Board’s proposals for standards for children in the youth justice system 2019

Clinks responded to the Youth Justice Board’s consultation on the revised national standards for children in the youth justice system. Clinks welcomes the "child first, offender second" principle underpinning the revised standards and its aim to promote a childhood removed from the criminal justice system. Clinks has made recommendations for embedding these principles at every stage of the criminal justice system and we highlight the vital role of the voluntary sector in youth justice. Our submission focuses on the disproportionate numbers and unequal outcomes of children with protected characteristics in the system and the need for reform to address these disparities. The submission will be available on our website in due course.