Call to help young people keep bail conditions

Young people on remand need more support to help them comply with bail conditions, it was warned today.

A new study revealed 80% of young offenders in Ireland are given bail, with more than a third never or rarely knowing what it meant.

The report – 'Young People on Remand' – found many were also excluded from mainstream education and training from an early age and that the transition between primary and secondary school was a particularly vulnerable time.

Co-author Mairead Seymour, of Dublin Institute of Technology, said the study clearly identified a core group of young people who are deeply entrenched in the youth justice system.

She believed they were likely to benefit from bail support and alternatives to remand programmes in order to reduce their risk of future detention.

“With the exception of one case, all of the 30 young people interviewed had been on bail in the previous two years and all of them had broken the conditions of bail,” said Ms Seymour.

“The study notes the need for a broad range of social, educational, health and welfare services to target factors related to offending behaviour and to address barriers to bail compliance.

“Young people, parents and professionals described difficulties in the provision of psychological and mental health services due to delays in accessing services and/or limited resources.”

The study was based on interviews with 30 youngsters, aged from 13-19 years in the Children Detention School system or St Patrick’s Institution, 19 interviews with parents and professionals, 218 case observations at the Dublin Children Court and a consultation survey with 120 professionals.

Children’s Minister Barry Andrews said the results highlighted the need for supports for young people on remand, to promote greater compliance with the conditions of bail and reduce the use of detention on remand.

“Though progress is being made, this study confirms the need to redouble our efforts to communicate with the children and families of children who come into contact with the criminal justice system and, in particular, focus in on children who are remanded on bail,” he added.

This study was commissioned by the Office for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, as part of the National Children’s Strategy Research Programme.