CYCJ welcomed this consultation and support its main focus on delivering reforms to reduce the prison population to a sustainable level. Our response, however, also outlined ways for changes to be more ambitious. This is an opportunity to both further embed a truly child-centred approach to justice, and to centre the rehabilitation and reintegration of young people, recognising their continued brain development and capacity to move away from offending. All of this, of course, requires sustained investment in community-based alternatives. Current funding and implementation challenges must be addressed, and new proposals must be matched with appropriate resourcing.
For more information or to discuss our response in more detail, please email allan.young@strath.ac.uk