Youth Justice Board
Encyclopedia
The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) is an executive non-departmental public body
, funded by and reporting to the Ministry of Justice
and Department for Education and Skills. The Board's 10-12 members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice.
On 14 October 2010 the UK government proposed that the Board be abolished.
in England
and Wales
. It works to prevent offending and reoffending by children and young people
under the age of 18, and to ensure that custody for them is safe, secure, and addresses the causes of their offending behaviour. Specifically, the Board:
The Board claims to base all its work on evidence, where this exists.
Non-departmental public body
In the United Kingdom, a non-departmental public body —often referred to as a quango—is a classification applied by the Cabinet Office, Treasury, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive to certain types of public bodies...
, funded by and reporting to the Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Justice is a ministerial department of the UK Government headed by the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, who is responsible for improvements to the justice system so that it better serves the public...
and Department for Education and Skills. The Board's 10-12 members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice.
On 14 October 2010 the UK government proposed that the Board be abolished.
Mission
The YJB oversees the youth justice systemYoung offender
A young offender is a young person who has been convicted or cautioned for a criminal offence. Criminal justice systems often deal with young offenders differently from adult offenders, but different countries apply the term 'young offender' to different age groups depending on the age of criminal...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It works to prevent offending and reoffending by children and young people
Young offender
A young offender is a young person who has been convicted or cautioned for a criminal offence. Criminal justice systems often deal with young offenders differently from adult offenders, but different countries apply the term 'young offender' to different age groups depending on the age of criminal...
under the age of 18, and to ensure that custody for them is safe, secure, and addresses the causes of their offending behaviour. Specifically, the Board:
- advises the Secretary of State for Justice on the operation of, and standards for, the youth justice system
- monitors the performance of the youth justice system
- purchases places for, and places, children and young people remanded or sentenced to custody
- identifies and promotes effective practice
- makes grants to local authorities and other bodies to support the development of effective practice
- commissions research and publishes information.
The Board claims to base all its work on evidence, where this exists.
Vision
The Board's vision is of an effective youth justice system, where:- more offenders are caught, held to account for their actions, and stop offending
- children and young people receive the support they need to lead crime-free lives
- victims are better supported
- the public has more confidence in the youth justice system
- the youth justice system believes that it is important that physical content is very bad.
Members
Members of the YJB are appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice. The current chair is Frances Done. The other current members (as of 28 July 2009) are:- Graham Robb
- Bob Reitemeier
- David Simpson
- Chris Holmes CBE
- Canon Dr Alan Billings
- Charles Clark
- Rosanna O'Connor
- Jennifer Izekor
- Angela Sarkis
- John Wrangham