SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

Report of Advisory Group on Youth Crime

What are our key recommendations?

7. These come in 3 parts:

For early implementation

expansion of the range and availability of effective, quality assessed, community-based interventions and programmes for persistent young offenders which can be used by Reporters and the Hearings
access to the new range of interventions and programmes by procurators fiscal and the courts for persistent young offenders up to age 18
a renaming of the Children's Hearings system: one option would be simply to drop the reference to children
expansion of bail information and supervision schemes to all 16/17 year olds
expansion of diversion schemes to all 16/17 year olds
a detailed examination of the feasibility of a bridging pilot scheme which would refer as many 16/17 year olds as possible to the Hearings system
a national strategy based on our core objectives which delivers a consistent framework for local activity and addresses training needs
arrangements at local level to co-ordinate action on a multi-agency basis to address the needs and deeds of young offenders
a national resource to disseminate best practice, commission relevant research and accredit programmes or interventions for tackling persistent offending by children and young people.

For medium to longer-term implementation

review the case for raising the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years
develop the range of tailored community based disposals for under 18s coming before the courts in order to avoid custody
review the use of the fine as a penalty for young offenders to reduce the level of custody for fine default
in the light of any bridging pilots, consider the case for rolling out these arrangements across Scotland.