Page 110 - JUSTICE Tackling Racial Injustice - Children and the Youth Justice System

programmes. The Judicial College, the Inns of Court College of Advocacy and
the Law Society should set out a clear plan to implement similar training,
which must be evaluated and measured (paras 3.17, 3.19 and 3.21).

Problem-solving approaches

21. A national framework for diversion schemes should be developed and
implemented to strengthen the existing presumption in favour of diversion for
children and for this presumption to be properly embedded and consistently
applied in all criminal allegations involving children. (para 3.34).

22. The Ministry of Justice and Youth Justice Board should work together to
collect accurate and consistent data on the impact and effectiveness of out of
court disposals, as recommended by the Justice Select Committee (para 3.35).

23. Should an evaluation demonstrate positive results, we recommend that
problem-solving sentencing hearings be rolled-out to every Youth Court, with
clear guidance on its suitable use (para 3.39).

24. Should an evaluation demonstrate that Youth Order Review Panels have a
positive impact, we recommend that they take place at every Youth Court, with
a particular emphasis on ensuring access for BAME children. Should
evaluation of Youth Order Review Panels prove positive, they should be made
available for young adults (para 3.42).

Enhancing Children’s Voices

25. A service should be established that supports disempowered parents through
to court. It is vital that interpreters are available for parents as well as children
at every stage of the justice system (para 3.46 and 3.48).
26. Innovative methods aimed at exploring a child’s experiences, and the impact
they may have, would be useful throughout the Youth Justice System (para
3.52).

Building BAME Children’s Confidence in the YJS

Ensuring specialists make decisions about children

27. The police should embed independent navigators in custody suites which
receive high numbers of BAME children (para 4.6).

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