Govt launches youth justice strategy

Promoting greater partnership among agencies working with young offenders will be central to a new youth justice strategy, Minister for Children Brendan Smith said today.

Speaking at the launch of the Government's National Youth Justice Strategy for 2008-2010 in Dublin today, Mr Smith said: "The purpose of the National Youth Justice Strategy is to develop a co-ordinated approach among agencies working in the youth justice system over the next three years.

The strategy focuses on children who have already had some contact with the criminal justice system.

The five main goals in the strategy are:

· To provide leadership and build public confidence in the youth justice system;

· To work to reduce offending by diverting young people from offending behaviour;

· To promote the greater use of community sanctions and initiatives to deal with young people who offend;

· To provide a safe and secure environment for detained children which will assist their early re-integration into the community;

· To strengthen and develop information and data sources in the youth justice system to support more effective policies and services.

"The Strategy will be progressed at a national level by the National Youth Justice Oversight Group, which I have established in order to facilitate the cross-agency collaboration needed," said Mr Smith.

"The group will include representatives of key stakeholders involved in the Strategy’s implementation, including the IYJS.

"At local level, where appropriate, Youth Justice Teams will be established as sub-groups of Children’s Services Committees to enhance delivery of outcomes for the children concerned," concluded Minister Smith.