What works with children and young people involved in crime

This review was commissioned by Audit Scotland in 2002 to examine the evidence on 'what works?' as it applies to children and young people involved in offending in Scotland. The first part of the paper provides a brief overview of research on factors associated with criminal behaviour in children and young people before considering research on effective intervention and change. The second paper provides an annotated summary of recent Scottish research in this field. Research tends to focus on individual change within a youth or criminal justice context. While responses to crime require to be informed by what seems to be effective in reducing criminal activity, they must, equally, be informed by our knowledge of the personal and social factors associated with criminal activity, by the nature of youth crime itself and by those important ingredients which assist young people sustain change over time and desist from offending. Factors associated with positive outcomes for children and young people cannot be considered separately from opportunities for social participation and social inclusion which are more difficult to document and measure

Support and services for parents : a review of practice development in Scotland

Three year national evaluated pilot intended to focus on systems and practice for the operation of Parenting orders

Support and Services for Parents:A Review of the Literature in Engaging and Supporting Parents

This literature review aims to draw together existing knowledge on assessing and evaluating parenting interventions. In conducting the literature review, the research team was interested in re-examining the historical policy context to locate the rationale for the introduction of Parenting Orders and the apparent under use of the provisions; to re-examine the evidence of risk and protective factors and the interrelated issues of antisocial behaviour and child care; alongside effective approaches to family service provision. These themes set the context and framework for examining the evidence on the practice of engagement with clients and the use of compulsion

Girls and Young Women in the Girls and Young Women in the Youth Justice System – Vulnerable or Risky?

This short briefing paper examines the complexities around identification and effective intervention for girls and young women viewed as vulnerable and who may be at risk of future offending. The CJSW Development Centre’s National Development (Champions) Group for vulnerable girls and young women undertook a profiling exercise in an attempt to obtain a better understanding of the needs and vulnerabilities of girls and young women involved in, or on the periphery of, the youth justice system. While limitations of the data collection tool and methodology preclude wide generalisations, the complexities in attempting to identify individuals who may be at future risk of offending based on assessment of present and past needs and vulnerabilities is apparent. Despite the identification of often substantial vulnerabilities and needs in a sample of 12 to 16 year olds, it appears the majority of girls and young women were not involved in serious or persistent offending behaviour. The findings have implications for policy and practice development, which are now focussed on the development of effective and early interventions for all young people considered to be at risk of future offending

Young people in conflict with the law in Scotland 50 years after the Kilbrandon report. What does contemporary policy and practice tell us about our progress since and about the legacy of Kilbrandon?

I would like to thank the Sutherland Trust for the invitation to give this lecture. It provides an opportunity to celebrate two great figures in recent Scottish history whose contribution to human service has been significant – Jock Sutherland and Lord Kilbrandon on the 50th anniversary of the Kilbrandon Committee report

Forced to Make Amends: An Evaluation of the Community Reparation Order Pilots

This report sets out the findings of the evaluation of the pilot Community Reparation Order schemes ( CROs) operating in Dundee, Highland and Inverclyde from April 2005 to March 2007. The research has been conducted by the University of Edinburgh’s Criminal Justice Social Work Development Centre for Scotland in partnership with DTZ. The Scottish Executive introduced Community Reparation Orders ( CROs) in May 2005 as one of a range of new measures for tackling antisocial behaviour under the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004

Insight 41:Support and Services for Parents in Scotland

The Criminal Justice Development Centre for Scotland (the Centre) was commissioned by the Scottish Executive Scotland, to look at the availability of support and services for parents in Scotland, local approaches to providing support and services, and the broader evidenc