Youth Justice Service

What is the Youth Justice Service (YJS)?

The Youth Justice Service (YJS) is a multi-agency organisation supervising children and young people aged ten to 17 years. YJS aims to reduce offending and re-offending by children and young people. It was set up as a result of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Key service partners include:

  • health
  • education
  • police
  • probation
  • social care and housing support.

YJS supervise children and young people who are subject to out of court disposals issued by police and those subject to both community and custodial sentences imposed by the courts. Through an ongoing process of assessment, intervention and review the YJS aims to identify and then address the factors which have contributed to a young person’s offending behaviour.

YJS work with parents of young people who have offended. This is to ensure an appropriate level of support and intervention is offered to them alongside any work done with the individual young person. Additionally, we provide victim contact and restorative justice services to the victims of youth crime.

Youth justice system and services

Under the Act, it is our responsibility as a local authority to ensure that Youth Justice Services are available for the Island. The Act also sets out the principal aim of the Youth Justice System. The aim is to prevent offending by children and young people and establish the Youth Justice Board (YJB) which oversees the youth justice system in England and Wales.

Youth Justice Plan

We must have at least one youth justice service which works to tackle the issues associated with youth crime. We must also ensure an annual plan is available. This is the Youth Justice Plan which outlines how services will be delivered.

We provide a wide range of interventions to children, young people, and their families.

Our aim

The aim is to support those in need to move away from offending behaviour and achieve more positive outcomes. Working with key partners and other agencies, we seek to provide a high quality service. We take into account individual factors, giving assistance and confidence to the community that is providing needed public resources for youth.

Volunteering

Members of the local community can contribute to this work through a range of volunteering opportunities. Full training, support, and reasonable expenses are provided. Interest is invited from all sectors of the community. Volunteers must be over the age of 18 years.

If you feel that you can contribute to the work of the YJS, apply by completing a volunteer application form.

Youth Justice and Crime Prevention Privacy notice

Learn about how we store and use data in relation to children, parents or carers and victims by reading our Youth Justice and Crime Prevention Privacy notice.

Related links

In this section