Children in trouble with the law
Barnardo's recognises that there is a small proportion of young people who need to be detained because of the risk their behaviour presents for themselves or the wider community. However, most children in trouble with the law can be safely dealt with in the community using services that ensure they face up to their behaviour, make recompense and also help them deal with other issues in their life which may be contributing to their behaviour.
Facts relating to children in trouble with the law
- Over 80 per cent of offences committed by children and resulting in a disposal were neither violent nor sexual offences. Theft, criminal damage and motoring offences are the most common offences committed by children and young people.
- Around 50 per cent of people aged under 25 who are in custody will have been in care or had contact with social services departments.
- Custody is expensive and ineffective - over 80 per cent of children and young people who receive custodial sentences will re-offend within two years of release – and is damaging for children, minimising the chances of them growing into crime free adulthood.
Projects working with children in trouble with the law
As well as services providing programmes as a direct alternative to custody, Barnardo’s runs projects and programmes designed to prevent children at risk from becoming involved in crime and anti-social behaviour and provide education and support for parents to help them develop better relationships and exercise positive discipline. These include parenting education programmes and family group conferencing, and we also have specialist services such as Remand Fostering and projects working with children who display sexually harmful behaviour.
