Youth cautions as well as old, minor convictions will no longer be disclosed in criminal record checks following two new statutory instruments that have been laid before parliament in draft form.
This report considers how youth court practice should become more ‘problem-solving’ to better address children’s underlying welfare needs. It makes a number of important, and much needed, recommendations for reform.
The Youth Justice Legal Centre have published a legal guide on turning 18 in the criminal justice system as well as a briefing on the same issue.
The Sentencing Council have issued a statement on the application of the sentencing principles during the Covid-19 emergency. Lawyers representing children can properly take into account conditions in prison as a relevant factor when mitigating and applying the sentencing council guidelines to a case.
This update outlines the changes the amendments make to the Coronavirus Act and the Regulations in respect of its effect on children and young people.
The Court of Appeal identified the various ways in which mental health conditions and disorders may be relevant to sentencing. The Court also addressed particular considerations when sentencing a child for a sexual offence.
A review of pain-inducing techniques in the youth secure estate has been published. It sets out 15 recommendations which aim to ensure pain-inducing techniques are only ever used as a last resort and that appropriate mechanisms are in place to govern the use of restraint.
The YJB and HMCTS have published a paper which sets out principles and gives practical guidance on procedure for the use of video link in relation to proceedings involving children in police detention.
The British Psychological Society (BPS) has published new guidelines for UK psychologists conducting assessments during the Covid-19 pandemic.
