The IVY Project: Learning About Violence from Young People
As the Interventions for Vulnerable Youth (IVY) project moves to Kibble Education and Care Centre after six years at CYCJ, Lead Clinician Dr Lorraine Johnstone reflects on the important lessons she’s learnt (and is still learning) from her time with IVY. After more than two decades working with forensic populations, I have now come to […]
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The Right to Relationships
In this blog to mark Care Experienced Week 2019, Bernie and Charlie write about the rights that all care experienced individuals should enjoy. They are members of the Why Not? Trust, which seeks to enhance personal relationships amongst those who have lived experience of the care system. As well as individual connections, the Why Not? […]
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Reflecting on CARE
In their joint guest blog, Andi Brierley and Luke Burgess reflect on the ‘CARE’ group in Leeds, drawing on their own experience of the care and justice systems. Andi: My role at Leeds YJS is to work with children in care that come into contact with youth justice and support them to desist from offending, […]
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Innovation in evaluation: CYCJ’s learning journey
CYCJ is currently undergoing a six month evaluation to assess its impact on youth justice in Scotland. In the first of her blog series, evaluator Catherine-Rose Stocks-Rankin talks us through the thinking behind this innovative approach, what’s/who’s involved – and why it’s already making a difference. Asking the tough question: What difference do we make? […]
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We’re listening – key messages from Youth Just Us
Youth Just Us, the steering group behind the CYCJ/Staf Youth Justice Voices project, have already made a substantial impact, with interest from policy makers and politicians. Ruth Kerracher shares the key messages emerging as a result of the dedicated efforts of these dynamic young people. Youth Just Us have had a busy time of it […]
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Autism and offending – a mother’s experience
As we heard from Louise, family members are often affected by their child’s involvement in the justice system. Elizabeth* reflects on what could have helped her son who was not diagnosed with High Functioning Autism until he came into conflict with the law. Little was known about autism in the eighties when my son was […]
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Deprivation of liberty, not dignity
In June 2019, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice announced that SPS will stop the routine body searching of under 18s in custody, in his Response to the Expert Review of Mental Health Services for Young People Entering and in Custody at HMP and YOI Polmont. In this anonymous blog, one young person shares their experience […]
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Using data to address unnecessary criminalisation in residential care
In her latest blog, CYCJ Associate Claire Sands tells us about the crucial role data is playing in addressing the unnecessary criminalisation of children in residential care. I’ve been working on the Howard League Programme to end the unnecessary criminalisation of children in residential care in England and Wales for the last three and a […]
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Restorative Justice – time for action
Even though it’s been around for 30 years, Restorative Justice in Scotland is still not being used to its full potential. Pamela Morrison tells us why she’s backing the drive to change this, with the introduction of the Restorative Justice Action Plan. As a new member of the practice team (albeit for the second time […]
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