Court system ‘leading young people into vicious cycle’

New research has found that the Children's Court system is leading many young Irish people into a vicious cycle of crime and detention.

Reports this morning said a study of 1,000 cases before Children's Courts in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford found that detention rates for young offenders had doubled in recent years.

Dr Ursula Kelly, the UCD law lecturer who carried out the research, expressed concern that custodial sentences were not being imposed as a last resort, but rather because of a lack of support services and early intervention schemes.

This morning's reports said Dr Kelly's study found that mental health problems, behavioural problems, substance abuse and alcohol addiction were prevalent among children before the courts.