News
Youth Justice Agency welcomes Norwegians to Belfast ( 6/05/2008)
The Youth Justice Agency is hosting a visit from a Norwegian delegation who are studying the Youth Conference Service that operates throughout Northern Ireland. The Committee has been appointed by the Norwegian Parliament to examine ways of reducing the use of prison for children aged 15-18 who have committed crime. Their remit also includes examining scope for developing legislation to encompass restorative practices into their criminal justice system. They are required to report back to the Norwegian Parliament later this year.
The Committee is headed by Ms Liv Synnøve Taraldsrud, a judge and comprises a public prosecutor, a police superintendent, specialists in psychology and a Deputy Director General, and will be accompanied by two senior advisers from the Norwegian Ministry of Justice.
The focus of their research within Northern Ireland is on the statutory youth conferencing process and during their visit they will meet with Alice Chapman, Director of Youth Conference Service, and other relevant conferencing staff. They will also observe a youth conference.
In addition, they will receive briefings from some of our direct partners involved in delivering youth conferencing, including PSNI and PPS, and attend a session of the Belfast Youth Court.
"We are delighted to welcome the Norwegian Committee to Northern Ireland and are extremely pleased that they have chosen to study the Youth Conference Service in operation here", said Alice.
"The fact that other countries such as China, South Africa and Italy have also come over to see how conferencing works, helps position the Youth Justice Agency as a world leader in developing restorative practices into the statutory youth justice system," concluded Alice.
The Youth Conference Service organises and facilitates conferences between victims of youth crime and the young offenders between the ages of 10 and 18, to help the offender make amends to their victim for the harm caused.
ENDS
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