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Successful approach to be extended to older offenders

Monday, 19 December 2016

The Department of Home Affairs is seeking to broaden the reach of an initiative with a proven track record of diverting young people from a life of crime.

The Youth Justice Team plays a significant role in reducing juvenile offending, as well as supporting a section of the Island’s youth who might otherwise be unskilled and potentially unemployed.

The multi-agency approach and innovative methods of dealing with offenders are continuing to achieve life-changing results for young people up to the age of 18. This success has led to the Department exploring the possibility of extending the scheme to include older offenders.

Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey MHK said:

‘At a time when budgets continue to be tight, it is more important than ever that we use our resources effectively to generate positive outcomes. Since its inception, the Youth Justice Team has consistently demonstrated what can be achieved when Departments work in partnership.’

He added:

‘The next stage in this process of early intervention is to extend the approach to offenders aged up to 25. This proposal is currently under development and I hope to be able to present evidence of its positive impact in the year ahead.’

The Youth Justice Team, which is led by the Isle of Man Constabulary, experienced another challenging but effective year, with its annual report providing further evidence of its success in turning around the lives of young people.

The number of referrals for 2015-16 stood at 287 (involving 167 individuals) compared with 270 (162) the previous year and 293 (193) in 2013-14. Referrals involving looked after children increased to 73 (17 individuals) from 35 (10) in 2014-15.

The annual report highlights the effectiveness of alternatives to prosecution, including dedicated referral schemes for drugs, alcohol, assault and motoring-related offences. Restorative justice, where victims of crime tell young people about the impact of their behaviour, is also having a positive impact. A first-hand account included in the report provides a powerful example of the benefits of this approach for all parties.

The Youth Justice Team, which brings together professional staff from the Departments of Home Affairs and Health and Social Care, also works to encourage young people into employment, education or training.

The overall aim is to help individuals fulfil their true potential by working to a philosophy of prevention, restoration and integration. The results continue to be impressive, with the vast majority of those referred to the YJT staying out of trouble. Only 22 out of 167 individuals were referred on three or more separate occasions.

Minister Malarkey said:

‘I believe that helping offenders to address their behaviour requires us not only to hold them to account for what they have done, but also to equip them in all areas of their life to avoid making the same mistakes again. The YJT provides a model we can use to deal with older offenders as part of the Department’s focus on crime prevention and rehabilitation. The results speak for themselves and fewer offenders mean fewer victims of crime and safer communities.’

The YJT annual report is available on the Government website at www.gov.im/media/1354589/youth-justice-team-annual-report-2015-2016.pdf

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