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Gill McIvor, Lee Barnsdale, Rhoda MacRae, Alison Brown, Susan Eley, Margaret Malloch, Cathy Murray, Laura Piacentini, Reece Walters
Department of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling
Stewart Dunlop, Fraser of Allander Institute
University of Strathclyde and TNS Social Research
ISBN 0 7559 6080 7
This document is also available in pdf format (756k)

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
INTRODUCTION
OPERATION OF THE YOUTH COURTS
EVALUATION OF THE PILOTS
ORGANISATION OF THE REPORT

CHAPTER TWO: METHODS
PROCESS EVALUATION
OUTCOME EVALUATION

CHAPTER THREE: IDENTIFYING CASES FOR THE YOUTH COURTS
INTRODUCTION
IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL YOUTH COURT CASES
CASES REPORTED TO THE PROCURATOR FISCAL
YOUNG PEOPLE PROSECUTED IN THE YOUTH COURTS
SUMMARY

SECTION FOUR: SENTENCING IN THE YOUTH COURTS
INTRODUCTION
GENERAL OPERATION OF THE YOUTH COURTS
PROGRESS OF CASES THROUGH THE COURTS
FIRST APPEARANCE AND BAIL
FAST-TRACKING OF CASES THROUGH THE YOUTH COURTS
YOUTH COURT DISPOSALS
SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THE YOUTH COURT
YOUTH COURT REVIEWS
INTER-AGENCY TEAMWORK AND COMMUNICATION
THE YOUTH COURT MODEL
SUMMARY

SECTION FIVE: OUTCOMES OF THE YOUTH COURTS
INTRODUCTION
SENTENCING BEFORE AND AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF THE YOUTH COURTS
CHANGES IN RECORDED CRIME
RECONVICTION
COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARDS YOUTH CRIME AND THE HAMILTON YOUTH COURT
PERCEIVED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE YOUTH COURTS
PERSPECTIVES ON INDIVIDUAL PROGRESS
YOUNG PEOPLE'S VIEWS ON THE YOUTH COURTS
THE COSTS OF THE YOUTH COURTS
SUMMARY

SECTION SIX: MAIN FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PILOT YOUTH COURTS
ACHIEVING YOUTH COURT OBJECTIVES
CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES
APPENDIX

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The research team is very appreciative of the assistance provided by all of those involved in the Hamilton and Airdrie Sheriff Youth Court pilots. Particular thanks go to the Co-ordinator and Deputy Co-ordinator and other professionals who provided a range of data for the evaluation and to the professionals and young people who were interviewed. We would also like to acknowledge the support of the Research Advisory Group and Euan Dick from the Scottish Executive Criminal Justice Research.

The views expressed in this report are those of the researcher and
do not necessarily represent those of the Department or Scottish Ministers.

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