Youth Justice Law in England and Wales

An application for judicial review was refused on the basis that there was no restriction, neither by the power-giving statutory instrument nor by the non-statutory guidance, on the power of the youth court to order a late DTO release. This entitled the youth court to take into consideration the concerns about the increased risk to the public of terrorist activity unless release was delayed.

Updated Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 and Criminal Practice Direction 2020 came into force on 5 October 2020.

The Children’s Rights Group at Doughty Street Chambers and the Youth Justice Legal Centre at Just for Kids Law are delighted to announce their formal collaboration on a series of legal guides on key youth justice issues. Each guide will be launched with a webinar led by a panel of experts. The first in the series, intermediaries for child defendants, will take place on Thursday 08 October 2020.

This report, by the National Association of Youth Justice (NAYJ), provides a detailed overview of recent trends and developments in youth justice. The report strongly advocates the adoption of a child first philosophy.

Earlier this month the Ministry of Justice published its Sentencing Reforms White Paper: “A Smarter Approach to Sentencing” (the “White Paper”).

By denying vulnerable defendants access to the WIS, is the MoJ is denying equality of arms to defendants?

On the 14th September further amendments to the Act and the Regulations, came into force. This legal update deals with the changes in respect of their effect on children and young people.

Just for Kids Law together with the Howard League for Penal Reform and Liberty have written a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Justice requesting the withdrawal of the revised and extended custody time limits.