Martina JordanYouth Conference Service

THE YOUTH CONFERENCE SERVICE Introduced in November 2003 following

review and reform of the criminal justice system;

Advisors to government sought most effective manner in which to deal with youth crime;

New Zealand model of Family Group Conferencing deemed most appropriate;

Work with 10 – 18 year olds; Deal with minor up to serious offences

including domestic violence and sexual offences;

Fully integrated into the Criminal Justice System

TRADITIONAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS What law was broken? Focus on guilt Court/prosecution decides on

punishment Offender is central Offender versus state Limited family & community

involvement Rare victim involvement

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE Who has been hurt? Crime violates people and relationships Identifies need and obligation Victim is central Encourages dialogue Greater family inclusion Community involvement

A Youth Conference gives young offenders the opportunity to understand and make amendsto their victims for the effects of their offencesand to take steps to stop offending.It involves families,victims,community and the young person in making a decision on what can be done to put right the harm caused.

Community

Young person

Victim

Youth Conference Service

LEGISLATION JUSTICE{NI}ACT 2002

COURTPublic Prosecution Service

• Admission of guilt• Consent to meeting the victim• Expectation that amends will be made

To date 7,500 referrals to the Youth Conference Service On completion of a Conference a young person will be subject to a Youth Conference Plan (PPS) or a Youth Conference Order (Court).

FOLLOWING REFERRAL.... Youth Conference Co-ordinator (YCC)

meets young person and their family YCC meets victim/s Preparation of both parties for

conference YCC discusses case with police officer

and community representative Conference takes place Young person completes Youth

Conference Plan (PPS) or Youth Conference Order (Court)

PREPARATION PREPARATION PREPARATION!!!!! Young person takes responsibility and

shows some sense of victim awareness; Victim not pressurised to participate, has to

feel that there are benefits for them Community will assist the young person to

become reintegrated Family will support their young person Prepare for the wide spectrum of

feelings/emotions... Co-ordinator prepared for what might arise

in the meeting...

CONFERENCE PROCESS:LEGISLATIVE POWERS The young person may be required to: Apologise Make reparation to the victim, any person affected,

or to the community Make a payment to the victim not exceeding cost

of replacing or repairing any damage Submit to the supervision of an adult Perform unpaid work or service in or for the

community Participate in activities to address her/his offending Submit to restrictions on conduct or whereabouts Submit to treatment for a mental condition or for

alcohol/drugs dependency

Victim awareness Intergenerational placements (Age Concern) Anti racist programme (NI council for Ethnic Minorities) Public services victim programme (Translink, Fire Service) Individual victim awareness programme (Victim Support)

Preventing Offending Business crime prevention (Business in the Community) Substance misuse/anger management Offending behaviour (IMPACT –Car Crime) Education/employment Mentoring programme (Opportunity Youth) An example of a typical offender plan is?

Programmes for Young People

POST-CONFERENCE PHASE

The co-ordinator encourages, motivates and enables the young person to keep to their Conference Plan.

Incidents of non-compliance are dealt with by looking at the blocks preventing the plan being completed and if needed engaging the family in a Family Group conference to resolve the difficulties.

Ultimately a young person may be returned to Court or referred back to the PPS if they continue to fail to comply with the plan

74% face to face participation by victims 78% of plans are reparative 84% of young people made an apology Young people will complete their Orders in 67 working days

on average Voluntary process – 94% of young people were satisfied with

the process (latest satisfaction survey) 93% of victims satisfied with the outcome (latest satisfaction

survey) Reconviction rates – 38.4% Court & PPS combined Reconviction rates for next most effective community

disposal – 52% Reconviction rates for youth custodial sentence – 75% Cost effective disposal

Findings from Practice

HOPE YOU’RE STILL INTERESTED!!

Any questions?

Youth Conference Service41- 43 Waring Street

BelfastBT1 2DY

Telephone: 028 90316418Fax: 028 90316401

Email: info@ycsni.gov.ukWeb: www.youthconferenceserviceni.gov.uk