86% of young offenders on scheme are boys

More than four fifths of young offenders referred to schemes in the North that bring them face-to-face with their victims were boys, a report revealed today.

An independent evaluation of the Youth Justice Agency’s youth conferencing service showed 86% of those who took part were male and 77% were aged between 14 and 16.

Youth conferencing is designed for children aged between 10 and 17 referred either by the Public Prosecution Service or by a youth court on conviction to help them understand and make amends to their victims for the consequences of their offending and to take steps to stop future crime.

The process involves victims, the young people’s families, the police, the community and supporters who reach an agreed decision on what can be done to put right the harm.

Schemes have been introduced in the greater Belfast area, Tyrone and Fermanagh, Newry, Armagh and Banbridge, with the rest of the North due to be covered by March next year.

According to the findings of a team from Queen’s University Belfast’s Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, out of 362 referrals studied, 31% came from the prosecution service and 69% from court.

Around 29% of the young people referred to the schemes were in the care system, the vast majority of whom were referred by court.

The majority of cases (53%) related to offences against the person and property.

Serious offences accounted for 23% of all cases, 21% were minor matters and 3% were for very serious offences.

Victim participation was high with over two thirds (69%) present or having a representative at the conferences.

Over four fifths of young offenders (81%) and almost half (48%) of victims felt better following the conference. The remainder of victims felt no different.

Ninety-two per cent of the young people and 78% of victims who participated in the conferences believed they helped the offenders realise the harm they had done.

The vast majority of offenders (86%) and victims (88%) also said they would recommend a conference.

As he prepared to take part in a community restorative justice conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland Office Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson said the findings of the study were very encouraging.

“It is very encouraging that the overwhelming majority of victims have said that they would unequivocally recommend the initiative to others,” he said.

“The report also clearly shows that youth conferencing is no easy option for the young offender.

“Having to take responsibility for their actions and to explain themselves and to make amends to those they have hurt is a difficult path to take but this report has shown it is very effective in making the offender face up to the reality of their actions.

“The interests of victims, as well as giving the offender the chance to understand the harm they have done, are central to creating a modern and effective justice system, in which people can have confidence.

“The positive impact experienced by both victims and offenders taking part in the conferences endorses plans to continue to roll out the new arrangements to all parts of Northern Ireland.”