Bail support service for young offenders never rolled out

A BAIL support programme for high risk young offenders, which was due to be rolled out under the National Youth Justice Strategy, was never set up due to “costs and planning” issues, the Department of Justice has confirmed.

Bail support services were supposed to target young people whom the courts believed may be at direct risk of non-compliance or offending while on bail.

Under the strategy, a pilot scheme should have been set up in Dublin and Limerick by the end of 2008. It was expected the programme would then be rolled out nationwide during 2009.