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Target practice: sanction detection and the criminalisation of children

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Abstract

In the tick-box culture that has come to dominate the criminal justice world, some performance measures appear to have more influence on outcomes than others. The Youth Justice Board's (YJB's) target to effect a 10% reduction in the number of children in custody, in the three years from April 2005, remains unmet. At the end of March 2008, the juvenile secure population had risen by 10% over the relevant period, and – at 2,942 – stood at 22% above the figure of 2,408 required by the measure. By contrast, the Government's target to increase the number of ‘offences brought to justice’ (OBTJ), from 1.025m in 2002 to 1.25m in 2007/08, has proved rather easier to meet. In the year ending June 2007, 1.434m offences were dealt with by way of a recognised ‘sanction detection’ (reprimand, warning, caution, cannabis warning, penalty notice for disorder, charge or summons), a rise of 43% over the 2002 baseline (Home Office, 2007).

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 2-4

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Criminal Justice Matters (Volume 73, Issue 1)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 01/01/2008

Publication status

Published - 01/01/2008

ISSN

0962-7251

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/302110
  • Scopus: 84905326125

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