Welsh Government to introduce Youth Justice Bill

The Welsh Labour Government is to introduce a Youth Justice Bill, Local Government and Government Business Minister Lesley Griffiths has announced this month.

Whilst Youth Justice itself is one of the few key areas relating to children and young people which is not devolved in Wales, education, housing, substance misuse, health, and social services – all matters very closely related to youth justice – are the responsibility of the Welsh Government and will be the focus of the Bill.

The Bill will be introduced as the result of extensive consultation which identified three areas of those devolved to Wales where legislation can provide better support for children and young people in the youth justice system. The legislation will focus on ensuring the position of children and young people in the youth justice system is improved which is key to ensuring they have the support and help from services that they need.

The legislation will aim to prevent children and young people from reoffending and progressing through the system into custody; provide better support for those young people who are sentenced to custody; and create multi-agency resettlement partnerships to ensure better support when they finish their time with the Youth Offending Team or leave custody. Each of these three proposals aims to break the cycle of offending by ensuring young people get the help they need.