Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK has welcomed further evidence of the role played by the Youth Justice Team in diverting young people away from a life of crime.
The multi-agency team, which is led by the Isle of Man Constabulary, experienced a ‘challenging but successful year’, with its annual report for 2013-14 showing a reduction in the total number of referrals – 293 (involving 193 individuals) compared with 412 (277) for the previous 12 months.
The report, which is available on the Government website at http://www.gov.im/about-the-government/departments/home-affairs/, also provides examples of positive outcomes achieved through alternatives to prosecution such as restorative justice, drug and alcohol referral schemes, cautions and final warnings.
The Youth Justice Team (YJT) is focused on the prevention of offending and reoffending by children and young people under the age of 18 years. Statistics show that it has been instrumental in transforming young lives and reducing the number of victims of crime.
Minister Watterson said:
‘The excellent work of the Youth Justice Team continues to make an important contribution towards maintaining public safety in the Isle of Man. The multi-agency approach is helping to turn young people away from crime and set them on a path to being more productive members of the community. This work involves behavioural change rather than just quick-fix solutions and the results speak for themselves.’
He added:
‘Importantly, this is not just reducing crime for the future, but re-engaging a section of our nation’s youth who might otherwise be unskilled and potentially unemployed. The Youth Justice Team helps them into education, work or training, steering them away from the criminal justice system to being fully engaged members of society. This underlines our desire to protect the vulnerable, both in terms of victims of crime and the young people themselves.’
The YJT brings together professionals from various Departments of Government, including Home Affairs (Police and Probation), Health and Social Care and Economic Development. The aim is to have a positive impact on young people's lives by working to a philosophy of prevention, restoration and integration.
Crime is prevented or reduced by addressing the underlying reasons behind the offending behaviour – whether they are personal, family, social, educational, training, employment or health issues – and by pursuing earlier and more effective interventions.
The YJT ensures that young offenders face meaningful consequences that hold them accountable for the harm caused to victims and the wider community. A restorative approach is followed, with recommendations in line with the seriousness and persistency of the offending.
Work is also undertaken to integrate young people back into mainstream society. The results have been impressive, with the vast majority of young people referred to the YJT staying out of trouble. Only 19 out of 193 individuals were referred on three or more separate occasions.
In addition, 49 young people made the move into employment, education or work training placements in the first six months of the reporting period, with the support of a full-time careers adviser.
Inspector Paul Bryan said:
‘2013-14 has been a challenging but successful year for the Youth Justice Team. The most striking aspect of this year’s annual report is the continued reduction in referrals. I feel confident the team will continue to provide a quality service in support of positive outcomes for the young people of the Isle of Man who find themselves in difficulty or at odds with the law.’
