Youth Justice

1. Youth Justice Alan McCloskey Area Director Central Victim Support Scotland

2. Victim Support ScotlandBackground info Lead voluntary organisation in Scotland dealing with victims of crime since 1985 Independent of government and other agencies Victims of crime in Scotland receive the best support services European Union Crime and Safety Survey 2005

3. Victim Support Scotland2007 / 08 statistics 100,000 victims of crime assisted in communities 81,000 people assisted in court 1000 victims of youth crime offered shuttle mediation

4. Issues for victims Mediation / Restorative Justice processes still relatively new concept in Scotland Not available across Scotland � very patchy and gaps in services Youth Justice Services - readily available Criminal Justice System - offered as diversion from prosecution in a few areas only Public awareness low Difficult to grasp concept Thought of meeting offender again can be scary Uncertain of whose needs are being met � offender or victim

5. Priorities for VSS Victims interests must be at core Offender needs secondary Participation of victims in RJ process voluntary / optional Not at request of offender based organisation Victims need choice of models Need access to information and support Need time

6. Young victims of crime The majority of incidents against 10-15 year olds take place in school 95% of children claim to have suffered some kind of victimisation In Scotland, young people aged 16 to 24 (both male and female) are most likely to become victims of personal crime 16% of 16-24 year old males and 8% of females in the same age group have been victims of assault Young people are also at a high risk of being repeat victims of violent crimes, with 19% experiencing five or more incidents in one year

7. Link between victimisation & offending among young people If a young person is the victim of a violent crime, there is a risk that the person will go on to become an offender him/herself Being a victim of crime at the age of 12 is one of the most prevailing indicators that a child will offend at 15. Likewise, offending at age 12 brings a strong possibility of victimisation at 15 If a young victim of crime is provided with appropriate support and good role models, it is possible to break the link between victimisation and offending

8. VSS VOYCE ServiceShuttle mediation Victims of Youth Crime (VOYCE) Service in Dundee Benefits of service Victim centred approach Offers victims access to information and support Opportunity to express impact of crime (Shuttle mediation) to young person responsible (U16s) Victims can choose to access any, or all parts of service

9. VOYCE ServiceOther benefits Service promotes victim awareness Enables case workers to focus on specific victim issues Multi-agency approach Police, Local Authority Social Work, SCRA and other offender-based agencies Partners aware of victims issues Victims who want direct mediation can access Helps young people consider offender behaviour

10. 1091 referrals Main crime categories Assault (23%) Vandalism (20%) Breach of peace (15%) Age groups affected 30-44 (32%) 0-15 (25%) 45�59 (20%) Assault = 73% of all referrals for U16s Shuttle cases Local Authority (68%) Individuals (27%) VOYCE 2007 / 08 statistics

11. VOYCE user feedback Victims feel have a voice Can get answers to why? Internal and external evaluation High satisfaction rate >90% found service helpful / very helpful

12. The future? Youth Justice Framework: Preventing Offending by Young People � A framework for action Multi agency approach aimed at ensuring Child-centered approach to Prevention Early and effective intervention Managing high risk Victims and community confidence Planning and performance improvement