Irish Penal Reform Trust

Youth Justice

Ireland has a long history of poor responses to offending behaviour by children. A core strand to IPRT's work since its establishment in 1994 has been the promotion of a more effective youth justice system, with emphasis on non-custodial alternatives, diversion, early intervention and prevention strategies and programmes. Central to our work was ending the practice of detaining children in adult prisons, which was in breach of international human rights standards and a serious stain on Ireland's human rights record.

International human rights standards, and in particular the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, are clear that custody for children should only be used as a last resort and for the minimum required period of time. All efforts should be made to apply alternatives to detention to ensure that such a measure is only used in exceptional circumstances.

In Ireland, the Children Act 2001 recognizes the principle of detention as a last resort. The Act prohibits the imprisonment of children and the Criminal Justice Act 2006 makes provision for all children less than 18 years of age to be detained in Children Detention Schools. The detention school model is focused on a model of care, education, health and programmes that address offending, with improved outcomes for the young people, their communities and all of society. The Irish Youth Justice Service is responsible for the Children Detention Schools, within the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Following years of sustained advocacy by IPRT, along with many national and international bodies, in 2012 the detention of boys aged under 17 at St Patrick's Institution ended. In March 2017, a Ministerial Order ended the sentencing of children aged under 18 to adult prison in Ireland, and in April 2017, St. Patrick’s Institution was finally closed. Since September 2017 boys aged under 18 are no longer detained in the adult prison system.

IPRT continues to work towards progressive change in youth justice policies and practice, as well as engaging with wider policy and practice issues relating to youth justice, such as the provision of alternatives to detention, diversion and early intervention programmes. 

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Young People in St.Patrick's Institution

9th February 2011

A new report published by the Ombudsman for Children on the experiences of children and young people was published today.The report recommends that the facility be closed as a detention facility for children.

(Glasgow) Prevention and intervention programmes see 'significant fall' in violent youth crime

3rd February 2011

The significant fall in the number of serious violent crimes committed by young people in Glasgow is being attributed to a range of prevention and intervention programmes.

US: Children on the Outside

12th January 2011

Children on the Outside: Voicing the Pain and Human Costs of Parental Incarceration is a new report from Justice Strategies detailing the impacts of parental imprisonment on children.

Time for a new hearing

5th January 2011

A new report published today proposes that the current youth justice system in England and Wales should be extensively modified to allow for a far greater presence of restorative youth conferencing into the system.

Diversion of youth offenders in Hull

22nd December 2010

In Hull and the surrounding areas youth offenders are avoiding what some would claim to be direct punishment, and instead are being offered support or referred to youth clubs and other organisations, in an effort to address youth re-offending.

Irish Times: U.S. juvenile justice programme has valuable lessons for Ireland

20th December 2010

In today's Irish Times, Marsha Levick and Ursula Kilkelly write on how strategic litigation combined with academic research has helped advance the rights of children.

Enhancing child services, long term financial implications

16th December 2010

In these economically challenging times it is exceptionally difficult to make commitments to spare any specific services from budget cuts. It takes political courage and an ability to see long term potential savings rather than simply immediate financial implications.

The Youth Justice System in England and Wales: Reducing Offending by Young People

10th December 2010

The National Audit Office in England and Wales has released a report detailing the recent improvements to the youth justice system which have contributed to reductions in recorded youth crime. However, offenders receiving more serious sentences remain as likely to reoffend.

The Cost of Youth Crime

2nd December 2010

A report issued today by the Prince's Trust entitled "The cost of exclusion: cutting the cost of youth disadvantage in the UK" has found that the price of crime committed by those aged 21 years or under in Great Britain has risen to a staggering £1.2 billion a year, equating to over £23 million a week.

Eng & Wales: Supporting vulnerable children in the youth justice system.

24th November 2010

A review of the youth criminal justice system in England and Wales carried out by the Prison Reform Trust, Seen and heard: supporting vulnerable children in the youth justice system, has provided lessons that other States, including Ireland, should take great heed of.

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Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.

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