NCJ Number
141406
Date Published
1993
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This paper examines some current issues relevant to juvenile crime in Great Britain.
Abstract
Recorded juvenile crime in Great Britain has fallen sharply in the past decade, probably due to an increase in police cautioning, demographic changes, and the greater use of diversion programs for youthful offenders. Most juvenile crime is nonviolent; 77 percent of juveniles convicted of an offense or cautioned had been involved in theft or handling of stolen goods, or in burglary. In many cases, police cautioning can be a more effective crime prevention measure than prosecution; juveniles diverted from the criminal justice system early in their careers are less likely to reoffend than youths who become involved in judicial proceedings. This report maintains that local authorities should be required to provide bail support programs for juveniles, including remand fostering facilities. The options available to courts sentencing juvenile offenders include absolute and conditional discharges, fines, binding over, attendance center orders, supervision and probation orders, community service orders, and combination orders. While young offenders under age 17 who commit very serious crimes can be sentenced to long periods of detention, this paper concludes that the remanding of juveniles to adult prisons should be eliminated. An effective preventive strategy would target resources on children, families, and schools in the areas of greatest social stress. Local authorities would be required to develop crime prevention programs, support services for families under stress would be increased, welfare benefit legislation would be reviewed and improved, a program of hostel provision for homeless youth would be created, and local youth councils would be established.