The Ministry of Justice has recently published a Youth Justice Charter, aimed towards children who come into contact with the youth justice system. This accessible guide aims to make the youth justice proceedings more transparent and navigable for these children, ensuring that they understand their rights throughout their journey through the system.
The Charter focuses on five stages of youth justice involvement: initial police contact, court proceedings, community-based measures, custodial measures, and resettlement post-custody. Each section details the roles and responsibilities of various professionals that children will encounter during these stages, providing clear information about what support is available at each stage.
Central to the Charter are children’s rights standards that every agency of the youth justice system has committed to uphold. These rights include being treated with dignity and respect; being treated fairly, regardless of race, sex, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or language; receiving legal support from professionals who put their best interests first; receiving clear information about what is happening and what help is available; being listened to and having their views taken seriously; being healthy and kept safe from harm; and having opportunities to learn, develop and make positive choices for the future.