News
Youth Conference Service Calls for More Local Community Involvement (16/10/2006)
The Youth Conference Service, part of the Youth Justice Agency, is calling on members of local communities to get involved as they today announce that the service is now available in Downpatrick, Craigavon, Bangor, Newtownards and Lisburn.From October, the Youth Courts and the Public Prosecution Service in these new areas will be empowered to make referrals to the Youth Conference Service as a means of disposal and the Service is keen to work with local communities and businesses, which have a view on how youth crime impacts on local people living in their community and on small businesses.
Alice Chapman, Youth Conference Service Director said,” Crime does not only affect the individual directly, but also the wider community, especially where offences of criminal damage, motoring or drugs misuse are concerned. The Youth Conference Service is keen to increase participation in Conferences by members of the local community who are willing to share the views of the area in helping reduce crime.
“By engaging with the local community and business we want to help develop programmes or activities that will challenge a young person's offending or provide them with the necessary support in dealing with presenting problems so that they can make a positive contribution to their local community.“
The Youth Conference Service organises and facilitates conferences between victims of youth crime and young offenders aged between 10 and 17, to help the offender make amends to their victim for the harm caused.
Under the supervision of a facilitator, the victim and offender come together to discuss the impact of the crime on the victim, to explore reasons why the young person committed the offence and agree what needs to happen to repair the harm and prevent the young person from re-offending.
The Youth Conference Service receives referrals from two sources, either from the Youth Court after someone has pleaded guilty or been found guilty, or from the Public Prosecution Service, when it’s considered suitable, as an alternative to prosecution in court. Referrals from the Public Prosecution Service can only take place where the young person has admitted their guilt. In both cases, the young person must consent to the referral.
Alice Chapman, Youth Conference Service Director said: “Research has shown that the most effective way to prevent re-offending by children and young people is to make them feel involved in the decision-making process. However this is not a soft option for young offenders and evidence clearly shows that restorative conferencing satisfies victims better than any other sentence. Victims’ views are taken into consideration and redress made for the harm caused”.
The Youth Conference Service, which was the subject of a major television advertising campaign earlier this year, was first launched in Belfast in December 2003 and further rolled out to Fermanagh and Tyrone in April 2004 and Armagh, Banbridge and Newry in May 2005.
The Youth Conference Service is one directorate of the Youth Justice Agency, which also encompasses Community Services and the Juvenile Justice Centre for Northern Ireland. The Agency has a vision of having the lowest youth offending rates in the European Union by 2011.
ENDS
Media Contact
Kate Thompson or Russell Lever
AndersonSprattGroup
Tel: 90 802000
E: kthompson@andersonspratt.com or rlever@andersonspratt.com
Case Study
“Eddie” is 16 years old.
He has lived for many years in a Children’s Home. He was charged with 3 counts of Assaulting Police, Disorderly Behaviour and Resisting Arrest. These offences all occurred in the residential unit he was living in. However, by the time of Eddie’s Youth Conference he was living in a hostel for homeless people.
This was Eddie’s third Youth Conference and the matters had been referred by the Youth Court.
Those in attendance at the Youth Conference were:
- Eddie
- Support Worker from the Children’s Home
- Support Worker from the hostel
- Counsellor from the Child and Family Clinic
- One of the Police Officers who had been assaulted
- The Youth Diversion Officer from the P.S.N.I.
- The Youth Conference Co-ordinator
The Youth Conference provided Eddie with the opportunity to explain his actions on the day in question. He explained he had been drinking a lot during the day and had also taken drugs. When he returned to the residential unit he became unruly. The police were called and the situation escalated when Eddie’s sister also got involved. During the Youth Conference Eddie also admitted he did not like the police but had been attacking ‘the uniform’ not the person.
Eddie had the opportunity in the Youth Conference to explain how he and his family had been separated when he was young and the protective feelings he has towards his sister. He explained how this added to the situation escalating. He also explained about his drug and alcohol misuse and how this affects his lifestyle and behaviour.
Eddie was also able to hear from the Police Officer how behaviour such as his affects the Officer’s involved and how it can take up valuable Police time. The Police Officer was able to put a human in place of the ‘uniform’ he had attacked. The conversation Eddie and the Police Officer had enabled them both to understand the situation from each others perspective.
The Youth Conference moved on to look at how Eddie could make up for the harm he had caused and how to prevent re-offending.
There was much input from all of those present at the Conference. Eddie’s Counsellor explained how Eddie had begun to address his drug and alcohol misuse. His Support Workers were able to explain the positive and negative aspects of Eddie’s behaviour on a day to day basis.
Eddie’s Youth Conference Plan included:
- Writing letter’s of apology to those Police Officers involved
- Working with a Youth Coach for 6 months
- Volunteering in a Youth Centre for 6 months
- Work with his Youth Coach to design a drug and alcohol presentation
- In conjunction with the PSNI YDO present the Drug and Alcohol workshop to the Children in the residential Unit where the offences occurred.
- Complete at least the Bronze Level of the Youth Achievement Award.
Eddie lost his accommodation shortly after the Youth Conference which resulted in him moving to a different town. He continued to engage with his Youth Coach on a weekly basis. They are focusing on gathering information for his drug and alcohol presentation.
He has written his letters of apology and has arranged a start date in the Youth Centre and met with a number of staff there and attended a staff meeting. He will be able to gain a Certificate on Drug and Alcohol Awareness through the Youth Centre.
Eddie admits himself that he is determined to change his life. He is addressing many of the issues that led to his offending. He will also have the opportunity to gain some qualifications and work experience which will leave him in a better position to gain employment. He has moved back into the hostel he was originally in.
Eddie continues to work through his Youth Conference Order.
<< Go BACK
