Under 18s who appeared in court say: “I was in court the day after my 16th birthday and didn’t know what was happening…I just didn’t have a clue”.
The Whole System Approach (WSA) states that all under 18s should be supported through the court process from as earliest an opportunity as possible until its completion. This should be holistic, proportionate and appropriate to the individual’s needs and provide both emotional and practical support, which extends beyond court appearances. This Info Sheet, written by Donna McEwan, looks at how this is being done and why court support is a strand of WSA that still requires to be fully embedded consistently across Scotland.