Youth Offending Report: Policies, Theories, and the Justice System

This report provides an overview of youth offending, examining governmental policies and initiatives designed to address the issue. It explores various theories of youth offending, including strain theory, social control theory, labeling theory, and inequality theory, and identifies risk factors such as poverty, parental history, divorce, exposure to family violence, and home discord. The report also discusses protective factors against youth offending, such as sociability and positive mood, and interventions like reparation programs and family intervention. Furthermore, it outlines the youth justice system in the UK, its purpose, and its role in preventing offending and reintegrating young people into the community. The role of third-sector agencies and the implications of a multi-agency approach in preventing youth offending are also examined, highlighting the importance of education, awareness, and a positive environment in reducing crime among young people. Desklib provides students with access to this assignment, along with a wealth of other resources, including past papers and solved assignments.

Unit 48 Youth Offending

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY............................................................................................................................3
Evidences that lead to development of Governmental policies and initiatives in youth
offending................................................................................................................................3
Theories of youth offending..................................................................................................4
Risk factors that contribute to youth offending.....................................................................5
Protective factors against youth offending............................................................................6
Youth justice system..............................................................................................................7
Development of responses to youth offending......................................................................8
Role of third sector agencies in prevention of youth offending............................................8
Implication for public services having a multi- agency approach.........................................9
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
As per the story of Jane it can be noticed that she is very bright and intelligent girl but
with the persistence of the situation that prevails in the house was offence and opposite. This
can be justified with the aspect that she had experienced a bad phase with her parents. Also
she has suffered from the phase of anxiety and paranoid thoughts under which she did not
feel comfortable in moving alone from her home. She uses to carry knife with her when she
moves out from her home. In the same way she was very cautious with meeting someone and
that is why always carry a knife whenever she moves out of the home. With the persistence
of bad situation in her home under which her parents got divorced from that point she hates
males and she became quite aggressive whenever she meets the males. This report will
discuss the factors related with contribution towards youth offending, the theories of
criminology, as well as the protective system that would lead to reduce the crime. The Youth
Justice system and the role of third party is also a part of the report.
MAIN BODY
Evidences that lead to development of Governmental policies and initiatives in youth
offending
There are large number of young people that are associated with the crimes and there is an
existence of strict rules and policies with respect to UK government in the context of people.
The actions in respect to UK government may include:
 Setting up of secure colleges so that the young person will got an education that may
lead to decline in the intensity of crime.
 Simplification of youth sentences and making them effective at rehabilitating.
 Reduction of use of remand in the custody for the young people.
 The main purpose behind the youth justice system is to make prevention of offending
the children and young people that lie around the age of 10-17 years.
 The impact of this system is clearly seen in the system in terms of reduction of
number of children in the custody.
There are various provisions laid in respect to the reduction of crime that may include
the enabling of personalised approach under which a personalised treatment would be

enabled to them. This may include treating every individual with difference and as per the
need so that the impact would be maximised.
In the same way it also an initiative that is related with the government and includes the
training and education system under which the children that would release from the offender
institution would be enabled training and education that would lead to raise awareness among
the severity o impact towards the crimes among the children.
Overall this would be right to state that the policies that are made and implement by the
government are mostly related with the aspect of enabling education and awareness among
the young offender and students so that the intensity of crime would be reduced (Farrington
and Bergstrøm, 2021). This will also work in the direction of reduction of crimes in terms of
raising of knowledge. In the same way various institutions including the Child protection
Board, Youth Probation Service that work in the collective manner so that the young
offences would be reduced and a positive environment would be enabled to them. The
hearing in relation with the children offences would also include an integration of parents so
that the lawyer would enable the actual situation of the home that would lead to further
resolving the case. The parents need to attend the hearing. In the same way the government
of UK is highly cautious towards the handling of problems that is related with the young
people and children. So that better future towards the economy would be made.
Theories of youth offending
There are majorly 4 main theories that is related with the youth offending. These may
include:
Strain theory:
Strain can be defined as the pressure which would lead the individual to commit
crime. this may majorly include deprivation of something (Barbieri and et.al., 2019). As per
this theory there are certain strain that would lead to have an increment in the crime. These
strain includes the negative emotion including anger and frustration. If an individual would
remain in association with these strain then it will have a direct impact towards the
performance of crime. In case of Jane the strain would include the adverse situation of her
family that make her threaten which would lead her to carry knife.
Social control theory:

As per this theory the people’s relationship, values, commitments, beliefs, values and
other social aspects may lead to have a performance of crime. If there would be negative
approach, then the intensity of crime would be raised (Rebellon and Anskat, 2018). In case of
Jane whose family situation is not so good and she had offensive atmosphere in her home
which would further lead to the commitment of crime.
Labelling theory:
As per this theory the behaviour of human being is reflected in terms of label which is
being imposed by other persons in the society (Spencer, 2018). In case of Jane the label
which was set with respect to the colleague would lead to assist her in the commitment of
crime.
Inequality theory:
This theory states that with the aspect of inequality an individual would be directed to
perform crime (Heimer, 2019). This is also linked with the aspect that if an individual is
discriminated and treated unequally then it will lead to assist in the performance of crime.
While referring to the case of Jane there are majorly strain and social theory and
associated factors that may lead to have an impact towards Jane that may in offending
behaviour. This means that with these factors Jane is committed towards the performance of
crime. However, with the persistence of other factors including the family and home
environment the crime would further be raised.
Risk factors that contribute to youth offending
There is various reason s that may lead to youth offending that may include the following:
Poverty:
This is the main factor that may lead to raise the chances of youth offending. This is
because with the persistence of poverty situation the individual would be assisted towards the
commitment of crime and offence.
Parental history:
This is also a major factor that may lead to have occurrence of offence by the youth.
This means if the environment of home would be not good then it may assist the youth
towards the performance of offence (Grady, Yoder and Brown, 2021).
Divorce:

This is also a major reason that may lead to have an occurrence of youth offending.
This is because if the youth would feel negative environment at the home then it may lead to
have an impact towards their behaviour and may lead to the occurrence of crime.
Exposure to family violence:
When the children would remain in exposure of the family violence then it would
lead to have a severe impact towards the commitment of crime and its mentality. This is
because with such exposure the children would learn negative aspect that may lead to have a
direct impact towards their action and as a result they may get exposed to crime.
Home discord:
This is also a major reason behind the children abuse and offences. This is because the
children learn everything that is experienced by them in their family and if the family would
be exposed to such negative environment then risk factor that may contribute towards the
performance of offence would be raised and become more active. This will insist the children
and youth to commit crime (DeLisi, and et.al., 2018).
As Jane has discarded from the school which would further assist her in the
performance of crime. This is because it would lead to the development of negative thinking
in Jane that would lead to the performance of crime. As the condition of Jane at home was
not good. Also Jane was highly affected by the parents divorced and the rude behaviour of
father. This all negative environment would lead to have an impact towards Jane in terms of
performance of crime. In addition of this excluding Jane from the school in-spite if her
brilliant and wide knowledge would further assist her in the performance of crime because it
is related with the strain theory that assist the raising of crime as per the strain of anger and
frustration.
Protective factors against youth offending
The protective factors that may include sociability, positive mood, low impulsivity,
low irritability and various other that may lead to play an important role towards youth
offending. With the persistence of these factors the youth offending would be reduced and
controlled (Maglione, 2018). As if there would be positivity towards the environment then it
would play a direct role towards the offences.

The programme of reparation would plays an important role with respect to the Jane’s
case. This is because the act that have been performed by the Jane is because of the fear and
its home situation which may be reparated with the enabling of better environment and may
turn the negative and illegal environment to the positive one (Rosa, Fox and Jennings, 2020).
This would play an important role in the minimisation of the illegal act and the offence.
Likewise, the family intervention would also play an important role in case of Jane.
With this intervention the affection and respect would be able to get created. In the same way
the family intervention would also play a major role in making her mood to be normal and
positive because with the prevailing situation of the family, Jane was disturbed and that fear
is coming out in terms of occurrence of changed behaviour in terms of high anger and the
carrying up of knife while moving out and meeting with males. Similarly, intervention of
anger management would also lead to have a direct impact towards her behaviour in terms of
making change in her thinking towards males. Weapon awareness play an important role
towards the reduction of crime because carrying a knife would be injurious that would raise
the chance of crime thus with the enabling of adequate knowledge regarding the weapons
Jane would be prevented from the commitment of crime. In the same way through enabling
of counselling regarding the anger control and psychology Jane would be protected towards
the commitment of crime. Thus with the above intervention Jane would be prevented from
the commitment of crime.
Youth justice system
This is one of the major justice system of UK that deals with the enabling of punishment
and persecution with respect to youth. The main purpose of the Youth Justice system is to
prevent the offending by the children. This system prosecute, convict as well as punish all
those persons who are under the age of 18 (Case, 2018). The main function of the Youth
Justice system is to help the young people to make improvisation in their behaviour along
with integrating them back to the community so that they can make amendment in crime
(Zavala, Spohn and Alarid, 2019). This means that this system work for the betterment of the
society and the better future of the young adults so that they can lead a good and healthy life.
This system work for making improvisation in the youth and protect them from the
commitment of crimes. It prevent offending the you children from the commitment of crime

(Jeffs, 2020). It contain various rules and regulation right from arresting, to prosecution or
providing of warning. This would lead to make realisation of the offence along with giving
them punishment so that the crime would never be repeated again.
Although Jane has not performed any crime but this system would play an important role
in protecting Jane from the crime and teach her regarding the offences so that the crime and
its seriousness would be reduced. As carrying up of knife would be considered as illegal and
it may even lead to the occurrence of harm which is considered as a crime. Thus, this system
plays an important role that would protect the occurrence of crime.
Development of responses to youth offending
Youth offending refers to a young person who has been convicted for a criminal offence. It
has been recognised that young people are more at risk because they are involved in alcohol
or drug use. Young people are immature and take wrong steps in their life. Youth offending
services is providing support to young people. The youth offending team is helping young
people. The main aim of youth offending is to prevent offending by children and young
people. Offending team help young people before they commit a crime (He and et.al., 2019).
In the given case Jane Doe of 15 years committed offence as she possessed with a knife in a
public place and possessed with a controlled drug of Class A. she was sentenced to a 6
months’ referral order. She was facing some problems. Nowadays, young children are
involved in drugs and alcohol which is not good and it should be stopped because this is
affecting their health. Taking drugs and alcohol at small age is not good for health and it is
affecting their life.
They are not able to focus on anything and their career is also affected. Youth offending
services are preventing children from committing crime and this helps in improving their
health. It is essential to stop children to involve in wrong activities or take drugs and alcohol
because this is not safe for health. Young children should focus on their studies and to stop
crime offending services are open which help in preventing offending by children and young
people. Youth offending services is providing trauma informed services, promote nurturing
environment and providing good environment to children to prevent crime (Hurren, Stewart
and Dennison, 2017). Youth offending teams are helping people who get into trouble. In the
given case, social care involved with Jane and the family due to concerns about Jane’s

safeguarding and wellbeing. Jane is currently attending school and report from her school
that she is very intelligent with good attendance and she is also good in studies. Youth
offending services are helping children and provide them right direction which is beneficial
for them.
Role of third sector agencies in prevention of youth offending
Third sector agencies include, charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups who delivers
essential services. Third sector agencies help in improving people’s wellbeing and it helps in
contributing to economic growth. Third sector agencies play a crucial role in supporting
communities at a local level. It is important to involve third sector agencies in prevention of
youth offending because their aim is to improve people’s well being and provide them
correct direction. Young people should focus on their career and does not involve in other
activities like taking drug or alcohol. They are playing a vital role in supporting communities
and prevent youth offending. Third sector agencies are helping people by providing
information, advice and emotional support. they are gathering relevant information and help
victim to access legal and financial services (Lambie and Gluckman, 2018). It is important to
involve agencies because they are providing correct advice and emotional support. third
sector agencies are supporting and empowering individuals. They support rehabilitation,
reduce reoffending and helps in improving community safety and community cohesion.
Some people are working for voluntary organisation in criminal justice system.
Third sector agencies play an important role in preventing youth offending as they are
gathering relevant information and correct advice is given. They are supporting victims to
access legal and financial services. In the given case, social care is involved for safeguarding
and well-being of Jane. These concerns are linked to her mental health and past and present
trauma linked to violence and aggression with family. It is essential to involve agencies so
that children can start their new life and enjoy. Charities, social enterprises and voluntary
groups helps in preventing youth offending. They are supporting people and help in gathering
relevant information so that people can be prevented (McCarthy, 2021). For example, the
Police, Witness care unit, Witness service which enable mental and emotional support and
concerned agencies plays an important role.

Implication for public services having a multi- agency approach
Multi agency working is an effective way of supporting children and families with additional
needs. This helps in securing real improvements in their life outcomes. To reduce crime it is
important that patients should focus on their children and support their children so that they
did not involve in wrong activities. It is important to organise awareness programs and
provide relevant information to children. Children should get proper education so that they
did not involve in wrong activities and provide more opportunities to youngetsers. This help
in reducing chances if involving them in crime, it is the responsibility of parents to provide
good education to their children and support them but in correct activities. Multi agency
approach refers to more than one agency in which practitioners are involved for sharing aims,
information is gathered and tasks and responsibilities in order to prevent problems (Kerig and
Modrowski, 2018). Multi agency approach is effective because it helps in helps children and
families with additional need and helping them to gather correct details. It is essential to
focus on providing good facilities to children and parents should support children. Multi
agency approach helps in improving effective services and joint problem solving. Agency are
having the ability to take a holistic approach and increased understanding. Multi agency
approach includes more than one agency and support families and children. Parents should
support their children and interact with them so that they can know what they are doing.
When higher education is provided to children then they get good opportunities and involve
in good activities. Multi agency approach is beneficial because it helps in solving problem
and enables different services to join forces. This is an effective way which helps in
supporting children, young people and families with additional needs. This helps in
improving outcomes and support is provided to children. Multi agency approach can apply
different ways to support children, young people and their families. They are collecting
information which support children and their families.
CONCLUSION
From the finding of the case and the observation made on case it can be concluded that
the behaviour of Jane is highly associated with the home environment and situation. The
behaviour of her father towards her mother would lead to the development of negative
feeling in her mind that may initiate any future crime. As she carries a knife which may even

harm the other and that is also related with her haleness towards the males. It would not be
wrong to conclude that in order Jane from the performance of any crime in the future
required action in terms of enabling safe environment or the emotional support needed. This
will lead to make change in her behaviour which will further protect her from the
commitment of crime. An in case if she would commit any crime then also Youth Justice
system would assist her in the minimisation of her crime along with enable her guidance that
she will not commit any offence.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Barbieri, and et.al., 2019. Assessing general strain theory and measures of victimization, 2002–
2018. Aggression and violent behaviour. 49. p.101304.
Case, S., 2018. Youth justice: A critical introduction. Routledge.
DeLisi, M., and et.al., 2018. The effects of temperament, psychopathy, and childhood trauma
among delinquent youth: A test of DeLisi and Vaughn's temperament-based theory of
crime. International journal of law and psychiatry. 57. pp.53-60.
Farrington, D. P. and Bergstrøm, H., 2021. The development of psychopathy through the lifespan
and its relation to offending. In Psychopathy and Criminal Behavior (pp. 105-125).
Academic Press.
Grady, M. D., Yoder, J. and Brown, A., 2021. Childhood maltreatment experiences, attachment,
sexual offending: Testing a theory. Journal of interpersonal violence. 36(11-12),
pp.NP6183-NP6217.
He, V. Y., and et.al., 2019. Hearing and justice: The link between hearing impairment in early
childhood and youth offending in Aboriginal children living in remote communities of
the Northern Territory, Australia. Health & justice. 7(1). pp.1-12.
Heimer, K., 2019. Inequalities and crime. Criminology. 57(3). pp.377-394.
Hurren, E., Stewart, A. and Dennison, S., 2017. Transitions and turning points revisited: A
replication to explore child maltreatment and youth offending links within and across
Australian cohorts. Child abuse & neglect. 65. pp.24-36.
Jeffs, T., 2020. Changing their ways: Youth work and ‘underclass’ theory. In Youth, the
‘underclass’ and social exclusion (pp. 153-166). Routledge.
Kerig, P. K. and Modrowski, C. A., 2018. Testing gender-differentiated models of the
mechanisms linking polyvictimization and youth offending: Numbing and callousness
versus dissociation and borderline traits. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. 19(3).
pp.347-361.
Lambie, I. and Gluckman, S. P., 2018. It’s never too early, never too late: A discussion paper on
preventing youth offending in New Zealand.
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Maglione, G., 2018. Pushing the theoretical boundaries of restorative justice: Non-sovereign
justice in radical political and social theories. In Routledge international handbook of
restorative justice (pp. 21-31). Routledge.
McCarthy, M., 2021. How universal is the youth crime drop? Disentangling recent trends in
youth offending through a socio-economic lens. Victims & Offenders. 16(6). pp.796-
818.
Rebellon, C.J. and Anskat, P., 2018. Crime, deviance, and social control: Travis Hirschi and his
legacy. The handbook of the history and philosophy of criminology, pp.189-206.
Rosa, M., Fox, B. and Jennings, W. G., 2020. Do developmental and life-course theory risk
factors equally predict age of onset among juvenile sexual and nonsexual
offenders?. Sexual Abuse. 32(1). pp.55-78.
Spencer, D.C., 2018. Labelling theory. In The Routledge Companion to Criminological Theory
and Concepts (pp. 181-184). Routledge.
Zavala, E., Spohn, R. E. and Alarid, L. F., 2019. Gender and serious youth victimization:
assessing the generality of self-control, differential association, and social bonding
theories. Sociological Spectrum. 39(1). pp.53-69.
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