hertsdirect.org Youth Justice Service, and youth offending

Youth Justice Service, and youth offending

The purpose of the Youth Justice Service is the reduction of crime and offending by children and young people.

This is a statutory service following the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which obliged the Chief Executive of County Councils to establish multi-agency teams comprised of:

Social Workers
Probation Staff
Education Workers (including Connexions)
Health Workers (CAMHS)
Drug Workers

They work across organisational boundaries to cut youth crime and prevent young people who have been before the courts from re-offending.

The Service is managed by an Assistant Director, Youth Justice, and operated through four multi-agency Youth Offending Teams based in:

Stevenage (Stevenage and North Herts)
Hatfield (Welwyn/Hatfield, East Herts and Broxbourne)
Watford (Watford, 3 Rivers, Borehamwood)
Hemel Hempstead (Dacorum and St Albans)

They play a full and active part in the national drive to reform the youth justice system by:

Helping to change young offenders’ behaviour
Making sure time spent in custody is used constructively
Preventing re-offending by young people on bail
Helping parents play their full part in preventing crime
Making sure victims of crime have their say

The Service takes work from the Police and from the Courts. It does not take referrals from the public.

Follow the links below to find out more about the Youth Justice Service in Hertfordshire. For a full guide to the youth justice system in England and Wales, visit the Youth Justice Board website, via the link on this page under 'External Links'.