The Criminal Justice & Immigration Bill
What will it mean for Youth Justice?
Thursday 17th January 2008, London
Care and Health and the Association of Youth Offending Team Managers (AYM) are holding a landmark conference on 17th January in London, chaired by Professor Rod Morgan, former Chair of the Youth Justice Board, which will explore the youth justice provisions in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, debate their potential impact, both on youth offending and on the use of custody, and assess the implications for all those working in the youth justice system. It is expected that the Bill will have had its third reading and in January will be in the Lords so this conference will have the potential to influence further amendments. It will also come in time to flag up the key challenges for the training and implementation strategy once the Bill has Royal Assent.
There is considerable concern that the that the principal aim of the youth justice system will continue to be 'prevention of offending by children and young people' and courts will only be required to have regard to the welfare of the young person as a supporting factor in sentencing. The implications for the 3000+ young people in custody and all those who offend are profound, despite the welcome change of introducing joint accountability for youth justice to the DCSF and the MOJ.
Speakers at what is predicted to be a provocative and influential event include; Lord David Ramsbotham, former Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charles Clark, YJB member and former
Deputy Chief Constable, Essex, Mary Duff, JP and member of the Magistrates' Association Youth Courts' Committee, Momodou Sallah, De Montfort University, Romi Bowen, Director of Children's Services in LB of Southwark, and ADCS youth justice lead and Mike Thomas, Chair of AYM.
In the afternoon, conference participants will explore in three work streams; the proposed single order, the changes to referral orders and the critical issue of how sentence inflation can be avoided. Brief presentations will identify the key challenges and group presenters will include District Judge (YC) Jeremy Coleman, one of only two judges specialising in Youth Courts, Mike McClelland, Chair of NAPO, and Sandra Beeton, Chair of the Association of Referral Panel Members. Each workstream will be facilitated by a YOT Manager and will draw up recommendations for the implementation strategy.
We believe this conference will be invaluable to all those who work in the youth justice arena.
If you have an interest in this area and work in the Youth Justice system then please contact Louise Nicholl for further information about attending a conference on behalf of the specialist section and COT.
Alternatively to reserve your place click here or call 0845 055 9207.
The Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill - What will it mean for Youth Justice?
