The Ministry of Justice has appointed Professor David Ormerod CBE, KC (Hon) as Expert Adviser to examine the future of criminal courts for children. This work will take a fundamental look at the function and purpose of criminal courts for child defendant and will report by August 2027.
The vast majority of child defendants are dealt with in the youth court although smaller numbers will also experience the magistrates’ court, the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal. Over the last decades, the cohort of children brought before the court has reduced in volume whilst increasing in the proportion of more serious, violent crime, often associated with complex underlying needs and vulnerabilities. Figures show eight out of ten prolific offenders committed their first crime as a child, while two-thirds of children released from custody reoffend within a year.
The appointment of the Expert Advisor recognises that more radical change may be needed to deliver a court system that supports children to turn their lives around and cuts crime. The Expert Adviser will be supported by an independent panel of experts drawn from a range of backgrounds to provide further advice and expertise.
This announcement forms part of a new Youth Justice White Paper, published by the Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, to provide the blueprint for earlier intervention, more targeted support, and tackling the root causes of youth crime to create safer communities and fewer victims.
Terms of Reference can be viewed
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