Guidance

Standards for children in the youth justice system

These standards define the minimum expectation for all agencies that provide statutory services to ensure good outcomes for children in the youth justice system.

Documents

Standards self assessment

Standards self assessment (Word document)

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Details

These standards replace National Standards for Youth Justice Services (2013).

They aim to:

  • provide a framework for youth justice practice and ensure that quality is maintained
  • encourage and support innovation and good practice to improve outcomes for children who commit crime
  • ensure that every child lives a safe and crime-free life, and makes a positive contribution to society
  • align with the YJB’s child first principle
  • assist the YJB and inspectorates when they assess whether youth justice services are meeting their statutory requirements

These standards are set by the Secretary of State for Justice on the advice of the YJB.

Also included is the Public Sector Equality Duty assessment of these standards.

Standards self assessment

We also include a standards self assessment guide for youth justice services and Strategic Partners /management boards. It provides examples of ways that they can implement and oversee national standards.

Published 21 February 2019
Last updated 25 February 2019 + show all updates
  1. These standards replace National Standards for Youth Justice Services (2013).

  2. First published.