Juvenile Justice: Criminal & Welfare Concerns 2001-2011 Seminar Camden Court Hotel 8 th November 2011 18/05/20151.

Juvenile Justice:

Criminal & Welfare Concerns

2001-2011 SeminarCamden Court Hotel

8th November 2011

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Garda Diversion Programme

How is it working for Young People?

Colette Quinn

Director

Diversion Programme

Children Act 2001

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An Garda Síochána Office for Children & Youth Affairs.

Garda Children & Youth Strategy

2009-2011Goal One - A policing service for all childrenGoal Two - A policing service for children in conflict

with the law Goal Three - A policing service for children at risk of

harm or in need of assistance

Mission“An Garda Síochána is committed to the delivery of a

quality policing service designed to ensure the protection of children and young people in our community and will do so in a fair and effective manner.

We will be particularly sensitive to the needs and rights of children and will endeavour to maintain the highest recognised international standards of behaviour and best practices when dealing with children and young people”.

Children Act 2001

Part 4

Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme

Director of Programme

1. Divert Young People from further offending

2. Alternative to Court

3. No Conviction

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•Under 18 years•Accept responsibility for offending behaviour

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•Admission in the best interest of the child•Not adverse to the interest of any victim & society

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Referrals: Total – 27,257

Number of Children Referred – 17,986

Admitted to Programme: - 12,899 (72%)

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Community to rear a CHILD?

Garda Síochána role – much more that dealing with offending behaviour in isolation of other needs

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Family Background – Young OffendersFamily Support

High Crime Areas

Care of State

Once Off Poor or no family supportFamily members may be criminally active

Welfare driven

Generally don’t reoffend Young people & parents have indifferent attitude to offending

Offending behaviour•Assaults•Damage to property

Time of personal and social experimentation

Poor self control Usually out of school

Children going missing while in care

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Juvenile Liaison Officer

Restorative Justice approach

Garda Youth Diversion Projects

Interagency /Partnership Working

Garda Youth Crime Case Management

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Reduce offending behaviourPromote positive life choicesBuild better relationship with young people, Gardaí, Victims & CommunityProvide hope and opportunity for young people

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Where to from here?

Continue to utilise the Diversion Programme & Garda Youth Crime Case Management.

High Crime Area Care of StateBuild on Family Support

A 100 YEARS from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the car I drove.

BUT

The WORLD may be different because I was IMPORTANT in the life of a CHILD.

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