This is a glossary of terms and acronyms in the youth justice industry.

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

AEdit

ABC

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts are voluntary agreements made between people involved in anti-social behaviour and the local police, the housing department, the registered social landlord, or the perpetrator's school. They are flexible in terms of content and format. Initially introduced in the London Borough of Islington to deal with problems on estates being caused by young people aged between 10 and 17, they are now used with adults as well as young people, and in a wide variety of circumstances. They have proved effective as a means of encouraging young adults, children, and importantly, parents to take responsibility for unacceptable behaviour. They are being used to improve the quality of life for local people by tackling behaviour such as harassment, graffiti, criminal damage and verbal abuse.

Where an ABC is selected as the best option, it is recommended that it should contain a statement that the continuation of unacceptable behaviour may lead to an application for an ASBO. Where a contract is broken, that should be used as evidence in the application for an ASBO. It may also be possible to use the evidence of anti-social behaviour which was originally collected for the ABC in any subsequent ASBO application.

Absolute discharge

An order of the court in which a person is found guilty, but no action at all is taken against the offender and the discharge remains on a young person’s criminal record. This order is very rarely used in the Youth Court.

ACO Attendance centre order

Acknowledgment of wrong-doing / Apology

An acknowledgement of wrong-doing should be seen as the essential building block of a Referral Order contract. It is the basis from which a young person can begin to demonstrate that their actions have affected other specific people or the wider community, and that they are willing to begin the process of putting that right. Without this acknowledgement it would be very difficult for a panel to negotiate a contract that contains the two elements of reparation and intervention to prevent further re-offending. In some circumstances it may be possible to work without a formal apology – especially where there is no specific victim, or where the panel understand that an apology may unnecessarily exacerbate a difficult situation or relationship. There are also circumstances where the victim has declined to have anything to do with the Referral Order process and, accordingly, the panel should not be seeking an apology in the form of a letter to them. In such circumstances the panel may, from time to time, see value in seeking a written statement of apology – addressed to the panel - in which the young person demonstrates that they have gone through a thinking process about their actions, have developed some form of awareness of a victim’s situation, and have subsequently learned from it. This should be for the benefit of the young person, and for the community - which is represented by the panel. As such it should promote the key elements of restorative Justice – re-integration, responsibility and reparation.

Action Plan Order

An intensive, community-based programme lasting three months and can be reviewed by the court after 6 weeks in order to check the progress of the young person. The order is supervised by Youth Offending Team. The programme, developed by the YOT, is specifically tailored to the risks and needs of the young person. It can include repairing the harm done to the victim of the offence or the community, education and training, attending an Attendance Centre or a variety of other programmes to address a young person's offending behaviour.

ADHD Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Age of criminal responsibility

Children aged 10 and upwards are deemed old enough to understand the difference between right and wrong and can be dealt with by the criminal justice system in England.

Aggravation

Alcohol Abuse

Awareness Training where a young person’s offending behaviour is connected with the use of alcohol, or their use of alcohol appears problematic.

Anger management

Where the issue is specific to the offending behaviour and there is evidence of abuse, loss or grief, anger management may be the primary focus of the work with the YOT responsible officer. In such cases the officer will likely explore with the young person the source of the anger and try to encourage the development of strategies to manage it in a manner which reduces the risk of further re-offending.

Anti-Social Behaviour Order

(ASBO)

Includes

• graffiti – which can make even the tidiest urban spaces look squalid
• abusive and intimidating language, often directed at minorities
• excessive noise, particularly late at night
• fouling the street with litter
• drunken behaviour in the streets
• dealing drugs

Apology

An expression of contrition or remorse, out of which emotions the expression of apology will arise. The concept of apology is central to the culture of Restorative Justice. Without an acknowledgement of wrong-doing, it is difficult for a victim to engage in dialogue, or forgive.

Appropriate Adults

attend an interview in police custody with a child or young person aged below 17, when the parent cannot ( or will not) attend. The Appropriate Adult role is to ensure that the interview is conducted fairly and properly; to facilitate communication between the young person and interviewer(s); and ensure that the young person's welfare is catered for. Appropriate Adults may also be necessary for adults with learning or psychiatric difficulties.

Ashfield Secure Training Centre (STC)

Ashfield, near Bristol was purpose-built on the site of the former remand centre in Pucklechurch village as a custody centre for Young Offenders and Juveniles. Its capacity as at January 31st 2006 is 380. Ashfield accepts remand and sentenced young people between the ages of 15 and 18. The majority of sentenced young persons are completing Detention and Training Oders (DTO). There are approximately 40 young people serving sentences of over 12 months on the Section 91 unit. If a young person is convicted of an offence for which an adult could receive at least 14 years in custody, they may be sentenced under Section 90/91link cont. This sentence can only be given in the Crown Court. But see also Southampton Magistrate's Ruling below.

Asperger's Disorder

ASSET

A structured tool used by the Youth Offending service for assessment of all young offenders who come into contact with the criminal justice system. It aims to look at the young person’s offence(s), and to identify the factors or circumstances problems which may have contributed to such behaviour - ranging from lack of educational attainment to mental health difficulty. ASSET enables identification of specific areas of risk working in a child's life, so that interventions can be more focused and effective.

Assertiveness

Training encourages a young person to develop their skills is a positive way to enhance protective factors against comitting crime - particularly when peer pressure is identified as a risk or contributing factor to the offending behaviour.

Attention Defecit Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Autism

BEdit

Bail

Bail may be granted by the court or the police. Where bail is granted, the person is released from custody until a later date for attendance at court or the police station. Bail may be refused, if the police or the court believes that the young person will abscond, commit an offence, interfere with witnesses or otherwise interfere with the criminal justice process. A Youth Offending Service may have a Bail and Remand team, specialising in attending court when Bail or remand is an issue. If a young person is in danger of being remanded in custody a “package of support” offered to the Crown Prosecution may result in the young person avoiding the damaging effects of remand in custody, and help to prove their willingness to co-operate with a court order, whilst retaining their freedom in the community. The Youth Offending Service may also provide the financial support for a small number of remand placements with specialist foster carers.

Basic skills

Many young people subject to Referral Orders have poor basic skills in numeracy and literacy. It is unlikely that lack of such skills are a significant factor in the commission of the offence, but may have been a background feature in low self-esteem and feelings of disenfranchisement. The Community Panel members’ role will be to signpost the child to other services or support agencies.

BESD (Behavioural,emotional and social difficulty)

A term widely used by education professionals to refer to children with certain types of education needs that act as a barrier to learning. Children classified as BESD experience difficulty learning, for reasons that vary from child to child. They also have a range of abilities and their behavioural,emotional and social difficulties vary in severity. Some conditions that qualify a child as having BESD include Dyslexia, Autism, ADHD, Attachment disorder, and Tourette's syndrome.

Behaviour modification

The theoretical basis for working with young people whose behaviour is adjudged to be in need of change, which tacitly places the fault within the child. Some specialist schools operate wholly on this basis, rewarding positive behaviour with tokens which are redeemed by the acquisition of privileges.

Big blue Book of Booze (Also Big Blue Books of Smoking and Drugs)

The big blue book identifies alcohol as a strong drug, presenting the essential facts with the aim of identifying safe limits to drinking, the risks of unsafe sex when intoxicated, and portraying heavy drinking as unattractive and anti-social. (See also DPPO)

BME

Denotes origins from an ethnic group

Breach of contract

When a young person has failed to keep to the terms of his/her contract, Community Panel members refer the child back to the Youth Court to consider an alternative sentence to Referral order - an increased fine / other intervention or Custody.

Brief Therapy

Solution-focused Brief Therapy is an approach to working with young people that is brief and effective. Research has shown that it brings about lasting change on average in less than 5 sessions and in up to 83% of referrals. It can be brief because it is future-focused and because it works with the strengths of those who come by making the best use of their resources, and it can bring about lasting change precisely because it aims to build solutions rather than solve problems. One way to think about solution-focused Brief Therapy is to take the view that at the heart of the approach lies a conversational shift. The therapist, using all the skills at his or her command, attempts to move with the client out of a problem-dominated conversation into a solution-oriented conversation.

CEdit

CAMHS (Children's and Adults' Mental Health Service)

CBT Cognitive behavioural therapy Programs designed to influence dysfunctional emotions and behaviours by teaching offenders cognitive skills that may reduce offending behaviours.

CCTV 

Closed-circuit televisionfootage may be used in prosecution evidence.

CDtoP (Complainant Declines to Prosecute)

A commonly used abbreviation among criminal justice workers (police, youth offending officers, Crown Prosecution Service) when an offence has taken place, and there is firm evidence against the offender, but the injured party does not wish the case to proceed to court.

CDRP 

Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships (See also LCRP) comprise police, fire brigade, local councils and local NHS officials, intended to draw up strategies to deal with problems in local areas eg violence and alcohol-fuelled 'yob' behaviour in town centres.

Certification for good progress

When a young person has worked hard, made every effort to comply with the purpose of the order, and has “excelled”, they can be awarded a certificate signed by the Panel Leader, on the assumption that many young offenders do not have their achievements in life rewarded. A certificate may help towards internalisation of rehabilitation measures, for the child's reintegration back into the law-abiding Community.

Children’s Fund

Launched in November 2000 as part of the government's commitment to tackle disadvantage among children and young people. The programme aims to identify at an early stage those at risk of social exclusion, and make sure they receive the help and support they need to achieve their potential.

The Children's Fund provides a responsive approach to developing services that address the difficulties faced by some children and their families. It encourages voluntary organisations, community and faith groups to work in partnership with local statutory agencies, and children, young people and their families, to deliver high-quality preventative services to meet the needs of communities

Children’s Trusts

Bring together all services for children and young people in an area, underpinned by the Children Act 2004 duty to cooperate, by focussing on improving outcomes. Children's Trusts support those who work every day with children, young people and their families to deliver better outcomes through integrated and responsive services and specialist support embedded in, and accessed through, universal services.

Children’s rights officer

A post within Local Authorities specifically created to oversee the rights of young people who are “looked after” by agents of the local authority, by ensuring they take part in making decisions about their lives, offering support to individual children, or by resourcing individuals to give them support.

CIT

The Community Involvement Team recruits, trains and supports volunteers – as [Wikipedia:Panel Members|], Mentors and Appropriate Adults. It is now an established principle in the Youth Justice system that in meeting the three principle objectives of the Youth Offending service (preventing crime and allaying the fear of crime; identifying young people who offend; and reducing re-offending) the Community is a significant stakeholder, and that the service works in partnership with the Community to achieve its aims.

Cognitive Processes and Cognition

Most Referral Order interventions by YOT officers are cognitive in nature i.e. intended to change the way the individual thinks, on the premise that such methods are the most effective in reducing offending behaviour. Restorative Justice and restorative enquiry techniques are also used to encourage people to feel differently about those affected by their crimes.

Commissioning

The buying of services by organisations from other organisations to do the jobs they can't. In children's services, joint planning and commissioning is used to provide a full package of support to children and parents, resulting in multi-agency partnerships such as YOTs working together with schools and CAMHS. [see above]

Community Cohesion

A vision of community living that revolves around people working together to ensure that diversity is valued and everyone has a sense of belonging in society, and that people from different walks of life are able to access the same opportunities. Community cohesion emphasises the need to remove barriers between people of different faiths, races and generations, and is a central tenet of the Restorative Justice principles applied in the Youth Justice arena.

Community Justice

Community Justice is part of the Government's agenda to tackle anti social behaviour and the crime associated with it, making life better for everyone. Community Justice brings the justice system and the community together: solving problems, reducing crime and building confidence[1]

CPM Community Panel Members / Panel Members

Volunteers commisioned by statue (Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 S6) link cont and recruited from all walks of life to attend Panel Meetings to discuss with a young person the circumstances leading to the offence; the effects of the offence on the victim(s), and to agree a contract of measures designed to address the causes of offending behaviour and make good the harm. Panels operate on the Restorative Justice principles that underpin UK law via Home Office Guidance cont

CPRO (Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Order )

Applies mainly to adults, and is reserved for very high end / serious cases where detention in Custody is a serious option.

CPO Community Rehabilitation Order

CRO Community Punishment Order

Community reparation 

Unpaid work has been a key theme in the youth justice system since the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act. Home Office guidelines point to the fact that community reparation activities for young people who have been given a Referral Order, should as far as possible, be determined by the impact of the offence upon the community.

. Panel members can define a specific number of hours that the young person should devote to community reparation within a contract. National and local guidelines provide a framework for decisions:

3-4 months 3-9 hours 5-7 months 10-19 hours 8-9 months 20-29 hours 9-12 months minimum of 30 hours Where there is no specific effect upon the community and where some form of personal reparative activity has been achieved, or there is resolution between the victim and offender, then Panel Members should have explicit reasons for committing young people to community reparation.

Compensation

If someone is prosecuted and convicted the criminal court may order the offender to pay compensation for any injury, loss or damage which the victim has suffered because of the offence. The victim does not apply for compensation but can inform the police of the losses they have incurred as a result of the offence and inform the police that they would like compensation. The victim is asked to give accurate details of their losses with documentary evidence, for example, receipts where possible. The police will then pass this information on to the Crown Prosecution Service who will make sure that the court knows about it. The court has to consider compensation in every appropriate case and decide whether to order an offender to pay compensation, and if so, how much. The court must take account of the offender’s circumstances and ability to pay. A Referral Order contract may “award” financial compensation to a victim; however, in practice, compensation will have been dealt with by the Court as a Compensation Order.

Conditional discharge

A Court Order in which no further action is taken against an offender unless they commit a further offence within a given period (no more than 3 years). If there is a further offence, n the circumstances of the original offence are considered as well as the new offence. A young person who receives a Final Warning cannot be given a conditional discharge, unless there are “exceptional circumstances”. In practice, this means that few young people now receive conditional discharges.

Connexions

A comprehensive service for 13-19 year olds (and for up to 25 where young people have learning difficulties) to provide advice and help for young people in careers and work, learning, health, housing, leisure, relationships, rights and travel. Service is delivered by as personal advisor, or in certain cases, by an intensive personal advisor.

Conditional Caution

Consequential Thinking

Training may be appropriate where there is evidence that the young person has had difficulty in relating cause to effect ie some of the cognitive processes used in situations in everyday life that connect A to B

Consequences of further offending 

The young person may be encouraged to think about the significance of their entry into a system which may potentially diminish their life-chances and affect how other people view them. Used in a non-judgemental way, it helps young people understand where they are within the criminal justice system, and encourages the exercise of informed choices.

Coping strategies

Training where the young person accepts that their offending behaviour, or risk of further offending, relates to handling situations with peers

Conviction

A conviction occurs when a young person pleaded or has been found guilty in Court. A Reprimand or Final Warning does not constitute a conviction. The conviction then stays on a young person’s criminal record and may have to be declared when applying for jobs. The Referral Order, and it's successful completion, has the advantage that the conviction is considered “spent” upon successful completion of the Order - promoting rehabilitation and reintegration.

Curfew

Curfew Order A community sentence available to juvenile offenders. This sentence requires a young person to remain at a specified place for set periods. A curfew order can be electronically monitored. The time period can be between two and 12 hours a day and the sentence can last no more than: - six months for those aged 16 and above - three months for those aged between 10 and 15 Local Child Curfew A local authority or police force can ban children under 16 from being in a public place during specified hours (between 9pm and 6am) unless under the control of a responsible adult. A local authority or police force can apply to the Home Secretary for a Local Child Curfew where a problem had been identified, for instance, with unsupervised children or young people involved in late night anti-social behaviour. A Local Child Curfew can last for up to 90 days and only applies to children under 16 years of age.

Curfew in Referral Orders The power to apply a curfew exists within a Referral Order contract. The Powers of Criminal Courts Sentencing Act 2000 23(d) states that the offender should be at home at times specified in or determined by the programme. Since in practice facilities do not exist for the Youth Offending Service to 'police' a curfew, there could be difficulties in proving a breach in the youth court. Where a young person can see the benefit, a voluntary “curfew” might offer an opportunity, on a voluntary basis, to amend their life style by taking personal responsibility.

DEdit

DAAT

The Drug and Alcohol Action Team is a multi-agency partnership working to implement the National Drug Strategy. The DAAT comprises senior staff from the main organisations involved in tackling drug related issues: Local Authority Education and Social Services; NHS Primary Care Trusts; Police; Probation; District Councils; HM Prison Service; representatives of local services.

DCW Designated case worker / (CRO Case Responsible Officer)

The person in the YOT who is allocated to a young person’s case to oversee the work defined in the contract.

Dealing with difficult situations

Training/coaching offered where a young person accepts that he/she has difficulty in dealing with certain social situations, or particular people.

Decision making

Training /coaching offered when a young person has patently made wrong decisions which have resulted in a form of offending behaviour.

Designated Public Places Order (DPPO)

An order made by a local authority, typically to prohibit alchohol in the street in certain areas.

Diary

The keeping of a diary throughout the Referral order will enable the young person to record the work they have done with YOT staff, to be able to look back on what they have learned, to see where they were and where they are at the conclusion of the order, as well as encourage recognition of their achievements. Use of a diary should also encourage self-reflection for those of sufficient capacity.

DIP Drugs intervention programme

Diversion

A school of thought prominent in late 1980s-early 1990s, that it is worthwhile to attempt to divert young people from entry into the criminal justice system, since once within the criminal justice system young people may perceive themselves as offenders and act accordingly. There are many definitions and ideas about diversion; the common link is a belief that instead of solely working with young people, some focus should be placed on the systems operating in their lives.

Drink-driving

An adult convicted of a drink-driving offence will be fined and disqualified. If a young person pleads guilty there is the additional imposition of a Referral Order. For young people aged 17 and above convicted of a drink driving offence, a possible option of a Drink Driving Rehabilitation Course may be offered by Magistrates to those who might benefit. There is a charge for the course, but successful competion will bring about a reduction of the period of disqualification – usually three months.

DTO

A Detention and Training Order sentences a young person to custody and is applicable to 12-17 year-olds. The length of the sentence can be between four months and two years. The first half of the sentence is spent in custody while the second half is spent in the community under the supervision of the YOT. The license related to release may require the young person to comply with extra conditions such as a curfew or non-contact with victims. The court can require the young person to be on an Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP) as a condition of the community period of the sentence.

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 doubled the sentencing powers available in the Youth Court to two years by introduction of DTOs, which essentially had the effect that only grave crimes committed by young offenders, went to the Crown Court. (See also Ashfield and Southhampton Magistrates' Ruling)

Dyslexia

Dyspraxia

EEdit

EAZ

Education Action Zones are clusters of 10 - 25 schools in deprived areas managed by school and community representatives, to create partnerships with business and comunity groups for additional funding for raising standards.

EBD

Emotional and Behavioural Disorders

EMA 

Education Maintenance Allowance is a weekly payment, depending on the income of the household, intended to help with the day-to-day costs when a young person stays on at school, college or training provider eg travel, books and equipment for learning programme.

See link title

Education provision

The power to require a young person to attend school was established from the outset in the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing ) Act 2000. Since the inception of the scheme, the number of young people attending Referral Order meetings who are not in education, or in part-time provision (either in mainstream education, or via home tuition) has been a perennial concern. There may be many reasons why young people are not attending school e.g. bullying, unconstructive relationships with particular teachers, dyslexia, phobias and so on. Until these have been examined by the YOTs Education Welfare Officer, and have been the subject of negotiation and agreement between the EWO and the school, a contractual requirement for improving school attendance, might only result in setting up the child for failure.

ECM (Every Child Matters)

In March 2005, the first Children's Commissioner for England, was appointed, to give children and young people a voice in government and in public life. The Commissioner will pay particular attention to gathering and putting forward the views of the most vulnerable children and young people in society, and will promote their involvement in the work of organisations whose decisions and actions affect them. See link title

E2E 

Entry to Employment See link title

EWO 

Educational Welfare Officers are responsible for working towards improving school attendance, monitoring child employment, assisting children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and participating in child protection procedures. Individual schools sign up to the Education Welfare Service and are assigned a particular Education Welfare Officer. The Youth Offending Service may have EWOs who are seconded to the service, in recognition of the fact that the majority of the young people in the criminal justice system, experience problems in the education system.

FEdit

FGC

The Family Group Conference, based upon the Wanhau – a Maori concept, is a process in which families can work together, to find solutions to problems that they and their children are facing, with help and support from professional people experienced in working with children and families.

The FGC process involves all family members, friends and other adults who the family feel can contribute to the plans for their children.

FGCs are based on the principle of working in partnership. This entails a shift of power from professionals to families.

Each Conference will have an independent co-coordinator who will meet with both the young person and the family before the conference and answer any questions they may have. (S)he will also discuss with the family who they want to attend, and agree where the meeting is held.

The co-ordinator will talk to the young person about how they would like to contribute to the meeting and whether (s)he would like an advocate to attend to assist him/her to put forward his/ her views.

The young person may also choose to contribute by other means if (s)he feels unable to attend the conference.

The referrer and agencies explain to everyone what their concerns are and why, giving clear information regarding their available support. The family is left alone to discuss the situation and put together a plan to address and resolve the concerns. When the family is ready, the other members of the conference will rejoin them so that the family can explain their plan and the referrer can say if they feel this appropriately covers the concerns they have raised.

FRANK

A national anti-drugs campaign and support agency

Fresh start meeting

Fresh start is the term used when an alternative measure e.g permanent exclusion is being considered. Fresh Start can occur when two schools move a young person under a managed move. In effect a young person can be moved from one school to another in order to allow him/her to have a fresh start with a clean slate. A Fresh Start Protocol can mean that the young person remains on the roll of the sending school for a fixed period -normally 2 terms.

If all goes well the young person automatically transfers to the receiving school role. Alternatively if all does NOT go well the young person reverts back to the sending school.

During the agreed period of the fresh start, should a young person receive any exclusion they will in turn always be shown as those of the sending school. Likewise the receiving school can end the fresh start at any time during the agreed period.

Protocols work with the agreement of the two headteachers and can not be imposed by the Local Authority.

GEdit

GRIP

HEdit

Handling conflict

Training in avoiding those situations, or handling them in a more productive way, where it is evident that the young person finds themselves constantly in conflict situations. Likely to accompany training in dealing with difficult situations.

HDC Home Detention Curfew

Home Tuition

Takes place when a young person is unfit to attend school on medical grounds. Schools will normally identify the need for home tuition when a young person has been in hospital or the Education Welfare service has been contacted by a parent/GP/Consultant. Home tuition will only be granted on medical grounds when the referral is supported by information from a Consultant.

Home Tuition should not be confused with Home Education (Elected to Home Educate (EHE) which is when the family/parent have formally withdrawn a child from school and notified the school in writing within 28 working days, in order that the child may be removed from the school roll.

The school must notify the Local Authority within a further 10 working days to arrange a consultation between parent/family and the Education Welfare Service, and to enable an EHE to commence.

IEdit

ICCP Intensive control and change programme

IMB Independent Monitoring Board

Volunteers carry out a statutory role of monitoring the welfare of prisoners in Her Majesty's Young Offender Institutions (YOIs)

Inclusion

A short-hand term for 'equal opportunities for everyone'. The Youth Justice system is centered on the principle of social inclusion ie endeavouring to ensure that the most marginalised children who appear before the court, go on to achieve their potential in life through a range of interventions delivered by a multi-disciplinary team of practitioners.

Independent visitor

The Independent Visitor Scheme aims to link young people in the care system who have minimal contact with parents and family, with a supportive befriending adult, independent from Social Services. It is a legal obligation under the 1989 Children Act for Local Authorities to provide eligible young people with this service.

The role of a volunteer Independent Visitor is to ‘visit, advise and befriend’ and it is a long-term commitment (ie throughout the time a young person is in care). Matching takes place according to personality, interests, gender, skills location etc and the wishes of young people (and volunteers). Visits are flexible, from weekly to monthly.

Interim contract

National Standards require that Initial Panels are held within 20 days from appearance in Court. This may mean that the matter of reparation is held over (subject to further discussions with the victim), but the intervention to prevent further offending gets underway.

Investigate leisure activities

When the Panel wishes to encourage the young person to develop their horizons towards positive, legitimate activity a voluntary element of the contract may be included about getting out and finding out what is possible in the community where he/she lives.

ISSP

The most rigorous non-custodial intervention available for young offenders, combining unprecedented levels of community-based surveillance with a comprehensive and sustained focus on tackling the factors that contribute to the young person's offending behaviour. ISSP targets the most active repeat young offenders, and those who commit the most serious crimes. The programme aims to: • reduce the frequency and seriousness of offending in the target groups; • tackle the underlying needs of offenders which give rise to offending, with a particular emphasis on education and training; • provide reassurance to communities through close surveillance, backed up by rigorous enforcement. ISSP is now operating across all of England and Wales. There are 74 ISSP schemes and the intervention is available in all 155 Youth Offending Teams. Responsibility for delivering ISSP rests with a dedicated team that works closely with your local YOT, or with a partnership of YOTs in some instances.

Most young people will spend six months on ISSP. The most intensive supervision (25 hours a week) lasts for the first three months of the programme. Following this, the supervision continues at a reduced intensity (a minimum of five hours a week, and weekend support) for a further three months.

On completion of ISSP the young person will continue to be supervised for the remaining period of their order.

ISO 

Individual Support Orders are aimed at tackling the underlying causes of anti-social behaviour. ISOs apply to 10–17 year olds and can last up to 6 months, for up to 2 days a week. Requirements include positive activities eg counselling for substance misuse. YOTs administer the ISO through a responsible officer, and advises the court whether it is necessary, based on a needs assessment.

JEdit

KEdit

LEdit

LAAs 

Local Area Agreements are contracts made between local authorities and central government, which become statutory from 2008. They set improvement targets and cover the delivery of children and young people's services.The agreements aim to provide solutions to local issues, while also contributing to national objectives eg Crime Reduction. LAAs were created to set clear goals, reduce bureaucracy and put an end to unnecessary ring-fencing of funding.

LCRP

Local Crime Reduction Partnership ( see CDRP)

Letter of apology[2]

Research has shown that victims, above all, value an explanation and an apology above the other elements which may follow e.g compensation, reparation, punishment. A form of Indirect Reparation in which a letter is written by the offender and sent to the victim via the YOT giving an apology and possibly an explanation of their actions. This should not be sought where, despite efforts by the Youth Offending Service, there has been no contact with the victim. Receipt of a letter in such circumstances might be seen to constitute “Secondary Victimisation”. Letters of apology should be supervised by Responsible Officers, especially where the contract specifies training in victim awareness.

LPSA

Local Public Service Agreement - Accommodation An agreement between the Local Authority and the Government in relation to reaching particular targets in public provision.

The first round of LPSA began in 2000 and concentrated on national targets. The YOTs involvement in the first round centered upon reducing offending by “looked after children”. The second generation of LPSA, which began at the end of 2003, contains more room for Local Authorities to set their own priorities.

As part of the LPSA process, Councils submit a draft agreement containing 12 or more service targets. These targets should tie in with stated local and national priorities covering education, social services, health, crime reduction, transport and cost effectiveness.

As part of their LPSA submissions, councils can request additional freedoms and flexibilities (F&Fs) from the Government. Requests must be fully justified by reference to the 'stretched' targets set out in other parts of the LPSA.

The current LPSA is a multi-agency partnership concerned with 16 and 17 year olds and their accommodation needs. Initially this is funded until 31st March 2008. It is, in effect, designed to reduce unsuitable accommodation for this age group and to eradicate the use of breakfast accommodation.

In the framework of Referral Orders, helping young people with accommodation (where there is a risk of homelessness) provides a significant impetus to the protective factors in the young person’s life. Where the young person is subject to a chaotic lifestyle they may be helped towards stability by including relevant clauses in the contract.

LSCB

Local Safeguarding Children Boards exist to ensure the various agencies responsible for protecting children are working together. The boards develop preventive measures and share information about children at risk of significant harm.

MEdit

Manual

A lengthy document designed to provide a comprehensive framework for all those who may be involved with Referral Orders. The document looks at some of the legislative framework underlining orders, guiding principles which may be usefully adopted within the framework of policy and procedures for use at all stages of work. This Manual is intended to be a constitution for Referral Orders for YOS staff, Panel Members and other non-specialists who may have an interest. The contents of the Manual will inevitably change as practice changes, but all changes should be approved by the Referral Order Steering group of participating YOTs.

MAPPA

(Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements)

Established in 2001, MAPPA provide the statutory framework for inter-agency co-operation in assessing and managing violent and sex offenders in England and Wales. Under the arrangements, Police, Probation and Prisons, supported by additional agencies including Housing, Health and Social Services, (and the YOT) combine forces to manage the risk to the public posed by dangerous offenders. Those 'critical few' offenders that pose the highest risk, are referred to a Multi-Agency Public Protection Panel (MAPPP), where their cases are regularly scrutinised by senior representatives of local agencies. In the year to publication, 39,622 offenders were covered by MAPPA arrangements, 2,152 of whom were referred to MAPPP

Masefield case

A case which came out of the Youth Court and may result in a Referral Order where there has been no evidence offered by the Crown Prosecution Service – usually in relation to a simple motoring offence.

Mediation

Mediation is a process in which a third-party neutral, whether one mediator or more, acts as a facilitator to assist in resolving a dispute between two or more parties. Mediation is a non-adversarial approach to conflict resolution, where the parties generally communicate directly; the role of the Mediator is to facilitate communication between the parties, assist them in focusing on the real issues of the dispute, and generate options for settlement.

Mentoring

Mentoring is the process by which an adult volunteer assists a young person to grow and learn in a safe and sympathetic relationship. Meetings take place weekly, for about an hour, and relationships can last for up to 12 months. Mentoring takes place in community settings eg cafes, sports centres or libraries. Goals for the relationship should be set by the young person and the mentor as the relationship develops.

Mentoring is only successful when young people want to do it and are engaged voluntarily in the process. Both Mentor and Mntee sign an agreement at the beginning of the relationship to clarify expectations.

Mentoring has proved beneficial in raising young people's self-esteem and reducing offending behaviour.

The (CIT) Community Involvement Team is involved in the recruitment, training and support of mentors. The Community may also be involved through the process of setting up a preventative mentoring scheme which aims to reduce the number of first time entrants into the criminal justice system, and to assist with those young people who are experiencing difficulty with accommodation, or at risk of exclusion from school.

Where Panel Members consider mentoring to be a useful inclusion in a contract this should appear in the voluntary section of the contract, as willingness of both paties in the relationship, is paramount.

Millennium Volunteers

A national organisation which encourages young people aged 16-24 to take part in voluntary activity in their local area. The advantages for young people who give up their free time to help their local communities, are in terms of expanding CVs and increasing their prospects for employment, by allowing young people to build on their interests to develop such skills as team-working, decision making and communication. They may also learn practical skills, such as designing websites or cooking.

Since April 2007, interim management of Millenium Volunteers was assumed by 'V' link cont Organisations supporting MV include: Galaxy Radio and: • Association of Graduate Recruiters • British Junior Chamber of Commerce • Business in the Community • Confederation of British Industry • Institute of Careers Guidance • Recruitment and Employment Confederation

Mitigation

A term used in the criminal justice system to describe circumstances surrounding an offence which tend to make the offence be deemed less serious. An example might be where an offence of assault has been committed but the person responsible for the assault was, prior to the offence, subject to considerable provocation.

Mosquito

The Mosquito was invented by a former British Aerospace engineer, Howard Stapleton, after his daughter was intimidated by a gang of boys hanging around outside shops. It is based on a noise that Stapleton remembered from his childhood, generated by ultrasonic welding in the factory run by his father. Mosquitos have been bought by police forces, retailers, housing associations, train companies and private individuals who want to get rid of teenagers loitering near their homes. The device consists of a black box that emits a pulsing noise several times a second over a 15m radius, loud enough to force children to leave the area within minutes. It is advertised to stores on the grounds that unruly teenagers might discourage 'genuine shoppers' prepared to spend money. Its manufacturers insist they have sought legal advice that it does not contravene human rights, and that very young children are not affected by it. But civil liberties group Liberty say it is a degrading and indiscriminate weapon that targets children in a way that would provoke uproar if it were used against other groups.link title

NEdit

National Standards

National Standards are set by the Home Secretary on advice from the Youth Justice Board. They are the required standards of practice which practitioners who provide youth justice services are expected to achieve and, as such, are an important consideration in the work of each Youth Offending Service. Quarterly and annual returns are provided to the Youth Justice Board, the results of which determine the YOT's overall standing in comparative performance. New National Standards are planned for implementation in 2008.

Within the context of Referral Orders, National Standards govern compliance with Home Office Guidance 2002 [3] training and recruitment of Panel Members; timescales for Initial Panel Meetings and contact between responsible officers and young offenders; completion of ASSET prior to the provision of reports; timings of Initial and Review meetings (20 working days and 3 months respectively); the holding of Final Meetings, and contacts with victims.

NEET

A priority group for the YOT and its partner agencies - young people aged 16 to 18 who are “Not in Education or Employment”. Estimated at approximately 1 million young people, the proportion of 16-18-year-olds not in education, employment or training has remained broadly level over the last decade, although there are signs of a downward trend. Work is under way to develop a delivery strategy for reducing the NEET population, building on the experience of Connexions partnerships in multi-agency working with other services supporting young people.

Newton Hearing

A hearing that takes place in Court when there has been a plea of guilt but there is a dispute about the facts of the case, or version of events. The hearing will only be held if the difference concerning the facts, makes a material difference to the sentence. The decision to hold the Newton rests with the Court, and not the defence or prosecution.[4]

NSPCC

The London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was founded in 1884 and changed its name to The National Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in 1889, aiming to protect children from cruelty, support vulnerable families, campaign for changes to the law and raise awareness about abuse. NSPCC opeartes 177 community-based projects and run the Child Protection Helpline and [wikipedia:Childline| in the UK and the Channel Islands.

Collaboration between Youth Offending Services and the NSPCC occurs in the event of a serious sexual offence, where the YOS requires an assessment to take place.

OEdit

OASys

Offender Assessment System

ONSET

ONSET is the standardised referral and assessment framework designed by the youth justice board to help prevention programmes to identify if a young person would benefit from early intervention, and to determine the risk factors that should be reduced and the protective factors that should be enhanced in order to stop him or her offending or committing anti-social behaviour.

PEdit

Panel Adviser

The person representing the Youth Offending Team who “advises” the panel, without making specific recommendaions.

Parenting order

Introduced in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 Parenting orders have been operating with some success around the country. YOTs have established or commissioned parenting programmes to support court orders and have also worked with parents on a voluntary basis.

A parenting contract is an agreement negotiated between a YOT worker and the parents of the child involved, or likely to become involved, in criminal conduct or anti-social behaviour. A parenting order may be made in similar circumstances by a criminal court, family court or Magistrates' Court acting under civil jurisdiction. There are 3 ways for the YOT to work with parents.

• Voluntarily

Many parents want and may even ask for support. YOTs may work with parents on a voluntary basis, without a contract or order.

• Voluntarily with a parenting contract

If a more formal approach is useful or the parents are unwilling to co-operate, a YOT can suggest a parenting contract. Refusing to enter into a contract can be used as evidence to support an application for an order and may persuade a reluctant parent to engage.

• Parenting order

If the parent is unwilling to co-operate, the YOT can apply for, or recommend, a parenting order.

Parenting contracts and orders may consist of 2 elements:

• a parenting programme designed to meet the individual needs of parents, so as to help them address their child's misbehaviour.

• specified ways in which parents are required to exercise control over their child's behaviour, to address particular factors associated with offending or anti-social behaviour. E.g. ensuring that their child goes to school every day or is home during certain hours.

A court may make a Parenting Order on a parent or Guardian of: • A juvenile (10 to 16 year old) who is convicted of an offence; • A child of 10 and over whom is made subject of an anti-social behaviour Order or a Sex Offender Order, and a child under 10 whom is made subject to a Child Safety Order.

The court will also impose this order when someone has been convicted of failing to ensure their child attends school regularly.

Parenting Orders can be made when a young person is referred back to court for non-compliance with a Referral Order, and evidence is presented that the parent who was originally ordered to attend meetings, refuses to attend.

PSP

The Pastoral Support Programme is a school-based intervention to help individual pupils to improve their social, emotional and behavioural skills. As a result of a PSP, pupils should be able to better manage their behaviour and /or improve their attendance.

A PSP will be particularly necessary for children and young people whose behaviour is deteriorating rapidly. The PSP should identify precise and realistic outcomes for the child or young person to work towards. The PSP will act as a preventative measure for those individuals at risk of exclusion. A nominated staff member should coordinate and oversee the PSP planning and process, which should be focused on meeting the needs of the child or young person, and be practical and manageable. Any PSP should be developed in conjunction with any existing intervention plans, not be regarded in isolation, and integrated with ther arrangements.

PCSO

Police Community Support Officers are uniformed staff whose role is to support the work of police officers, working within their local community by assisting police in areas requiring a certain level of police presence, but not necessarily the expertise of a trained police officer. PCSOs free up some of the time police officers might spend on routine tasks or low-level crime issues, and provide a valuable service to the community.

They may help with issues such as: • providing a visible and reassuring presence within communities • attending incidents of disorder, nuisance and anti-social behaviour • dealing with community issues such as littering and dog-fouling • checking out abandoned vehicles • gathering evidence through observation • helping with missing persons enquiries • speaking to young people who might be drunk and causing problems, confiscating alcohol and tobacco, if necessary • crowd control and directing traffic at public events • helping direct traffic at road blocks or scenes of accidents • assisting police with recording names and addresses or door-to-door enquiries PCSOs spend most of their time on patrol, usually on foot or possibly also on a bicycle. They work in pairs or small teams, and in liaison with their police officer colleagues. In some forces they team up with police officers, managed by a police sergeant. They do not have the same powers of arrest as police officers, although they do have the right to detain suspected offenders for up to thirty minutes until a police officer arrives. Carrying radios, PCSOs can communicate with police control rooms and other colleagues.

Peer pressure

A major influence on the behaviour and thought processes of young people – particularly in their teenage years. As such it has potential for good; correspondingly, when applied negatively, it has the potential for great harm. Much of youth crime is a “social activity” and may, indeed, be the result of peer pressure. Where peer pressure has contributed towards a young person’s offending behaviour and is hence a continuing risk-factor, Panel contracts may include reference to coaching in measures to deal with Peer Pressure. Alternatively, Assertiveness Training may be a more positive way of addressing the issue.

PL (Panel Leader)

The person selected to chair the meeting from beginning to end, by mutual agreement between the Panel.

PAYP

PNC

The Police National Computer is a national information system, available to the police, criminal justice agencies and a variety of other non-policing organisations. It holds comprehensive details of people, vehicles, crimes and property on a central database which can be electronically accessed all-day, every-day.

It is becoming an increasingly powerful tool for investigating crime and supporting operational policing. Police officers assigned to YOT offices, have ongoing access to the PNC.

PPO

A term denoting a particular category of serious and persistent offender, for whom special measures are put in place. It is estimated that approximately 10% of the active offender population are responsible for half of all crime; and that a very small proportion of offenders (0.5%) are responsible for one in ten offences. The Prolific and other Priority Offender (PPO) strategy was announced by the Government in 2004 to provide end-to-end management of this group of offenders.

Presentation

Prevention

PMNW

Protective behaviours

Protective Factors

PRU(YPSS)

PSR

A Pre-Sentence Report is prepared by the Youth Offending Service to assist Magistrates when sentencing offenders in the Youth Court.

PYO

A Persistant Young Offender is a person between the ages of 10 and 17 years who has been sentenced by any criminal court in the UK on three or more occasions for one or more recordable offences and within three years of the last sentencing occasion and is subsequently arrested, or has information laid against him/her for a further recordable offence.

REdit

Recidivism

Referral Order Steering Group

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act

Remand

The committing of an accused, but not convicted, person into custody or to release on bail (with or without conditions) while awaiting a court hearing or trial. From June 2002, the police have been able to commit to custody teenagers on remand, if they are accused of such crimes as car theft and criminal damage. Previously this was only possible if they were accused of very serious or violent crimes. 12 to 16 year-olds can also be held on remand if they have a history of crime ie locked up until trial, regardless of being found guilty or not.

Reparation

Reparation Order

RO Referral (OR reparation order)

RJ

Restorative Conference

Risk factors

Ritalin

ROSH

SEdit

Salamander project

School exclusion

Secure Estate

There are three types of custodial institution in which children and young people are remanded or sentenced to custody:

• secure children’s home

These are for 10 to 17-year-olds, and are managed, in most instances, by local authorities. One secure children’s home is run privately under YJB contract.

• secure training centres (STCs)

These are for 12 to 17-year-olds, and are run by private companies under contract with the YJB.

• Young offender institutions (YOIs)

These are for 15 to 17-year-old males and 17-year-old females. The majority are run by the Prison Service, with two run by private companies.

The majority of children and young people remanded or sentenced to custody are placed in YOIs. Placement priority in STCs or secure children’s homes depends on age, the range of needs of the young person, and the offence type, all considered as a whole. In general, they hold younger children than do YOIs.

Secure Unit /Secure Accomodation

Secure accommodation is a residential unit with the very specific difference that the young people in it are locked in. Young people between the ages of 13-18 will only be placed in secure accommodation if they are currently in care, or accommodated, and they abscond, or are deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. Secure accommodation is difficult to obtain, expensive and, apart from a period of 72 hours requires a Court Order.

Self esteem

SENCO

Services for young people

Social skills

Statement of apology

Solution focused therapy

Southampton Magistrates’ ruling

This was a successful appeal to the High Court which stated that unless there are exceptional circumstances in a Youth criminal case, it would stay to be heard in the Magistrates’ Youth Court and NOT be sent to the Crown Court as Magistrates have the power to sentence for up to two years Detention and Training Order, as compared with six months for other sentences.link title

Spent conviction

SPLASH

Substance misuse

Substantive outcome

SO Supervision order

STC

Stop and Search

PACE Code A gives police officers the power to search an individual, using that power fairly and without unlawful dsiscrimination. In some circumstances officers can use 'reasonable force'. If the search takes place in public, officers can order removal of the outer coat, jacket and gloves. Out of public view, headgear, footwear or any item concealing idenity may be removed. If a more thorough search is deemed necessary, it must be done out of public view by an officer of the same sex and out of the view of any person of the opposite sex.

• Stop and Account- Recommendation 61 of the Stephen Lawrence Enquiry requires that when an officer requests a person in a public place to account for themselves, ie their actions,behaviour, presence in an area or possession of anything a record of the encounter must be completed.

TEdit

Three strikes principle

The police have no discretion in dealing with juvenile cases; a child is allowed a Reprimand and a Final Warning (the juvenile equivalents of a caution) before prosecution in court; whereas an adult who offends can be cautioned an indefinite number of times.

Tourette’s syndrome

UEdit

UMIS

Universal Management Information System

VEdit

Victim awareness

Victim support

Voluntary community reparation

Voluntary sector of contract

VORPS

WEdit

YEdit

YIP

YIPs are prevention programmes which target 8–17 year olds most at risk of offending/antisocial behaviour in high-crime areas. The ‘core group’ is decided by local agencies. YIPs give young people somewhere safe to go where they can learn new skills, take part in activities and get help with their education. Positive role models – the YIP workers and volunteer mentors – help to change young people’s attitudes to education and crime. Courts are not involved.

YISP

YISPs are preventative and do not involve the court but target 8–13 year-olds. They aim to ensure the young person and their family can access mainstream services eg education and health at the earliest opportunity. Representatives from different agencies such as police, schools, health or social services work together with the young person and their relatives to develop an intervention plan.

YJB

Yob

A collective pejorative for young people, favoured by adults and sections of the media. 'Yobbish' signifies aggressive / loutish behaviour.

YOI

YOT

YOS

YOP

YOIS

YRD