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Month: March 2022

Justice Minister launches a new Strategic Framework for Youth Justice

Posted on by ArdmoreAdmin

Justice Minister, Naomi Long, today launched a new Framework setting out the strategic direction for the future of youth justice in Northern Ireland.

The Framework is accompanied by a 5-year Action Plan and recognises the developments which have taken place in the youth justice system over the course of the past decade. 

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Naomi Long said:

“We have made significant inroads into addressing offending behaviour by children in recent years and this has resulted in a considerable reduction in the number of children and young people entering the formal criminal justice system.  This benefits everyone in our society, from the children themselves and their families, to their victims and the wider communities in which they live.

 

“My Department’s new Strategic Framework for Youth Justice recognises that in order to build upon past successes and make further improvements, the continued adoption of a “children first” approach is vital.  This, and other key principles set out in the Framework will underpin all our interactions with children in the justice system.”

 

The Strategic Framework aims to deliver on a number of high level outcomes in order to realise the Department’s vision of “a progressive youth justice system – delivering better outcomes for children and communities.”  Key to this work will be the continued delivery of, and investment in, initiatives aimed at diverting young people from the youth justice system at the earliest possible stage and the development of further measures aimed at ensuring custody for children is a last resort.

 

Minister Long continued:

“I do not believe that criminalising children as young as 10 is in their best interests. A key action within the Framework, therefore, is to engage the public in a debate on this, with the aim of increasing the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Northern Ireland to 14.

The vast majority of children in Northern Ireland will thankfully never enter into contact with the youth justice system.  For those who do, I am pleased that we now have a Framework dedicated to improving their life chances and ensuring they receive the support that every child deserves.”

 

The Strategic Framework for Youth Justice and associated documents (including a 5-year Action Plan) is available here.

First Adult Restorative Justice Strategy for Northern Ireland Launched

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Justice Minister Naomi Long has formally announced the first ever Adult Restorative Justice Strategy for Northern Ireland.

The strategy, which runs from 2022-2027, has been developed with statutory, voluntary and community sector partners. 
It aims to better meet the needs of, and provide redress for the harm caused to victims of crime, and to provide a positive alternative to traditional justice responses when offending occurs. 

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Launching the strategy, Naomi Long said:

“The use of restorative approaches in our youth justice system in Northern Ireland has long been a great success, but there has been no overarching strategic approach for its use in the adult system until now.  A public consultation held in 2020 showed there was considerable support for the development of an Adult Strategy and my Department has now delivered on this.

“Our vision is that the use of restorative justice becomes second nature across the criminal justice system. We know from experience both here and elsewhere that when delivered professionally and sensitively, the restorative approach can bring significant benefits for the victim of crime, for individuals who have offended, and for families and communities.”

Alongside the strategy, a multi-year action plan for implementation of the key priorities identified through the consultation process has also been developed.

The Minister added:

“The Strategy and accompanying Action Plan provide an opportunity for the development and implementation of restorative approaches across the whole of the justice system, including its incorporation into formal court sanctions.  Victim Support NI will be working with us to look at developing victim-initiated pathways to promote and encourage victims’ engagement in the process.”

Work to deliver on the strategy will also incorporate a number of recommendations made by two Judge-led reviews: Judge Marrinan’s review on Hate Crime Legislation and Sir John Gillen’s review of the Law and Procedures in Serious Sexual Offences in Northern Ireland, both of which proposed that the use of restorative justice should be explored to improve outcomes for victims of such crimes.

A public consultation on the development of an Adult Restorative Justice Strategy for Northern Ireland was held in 2020, with overwhelmingly positive support for the proposal.  A clear view emerged that any such Strategy should place victims front and centre and develop appropriate structures and opportunities to allow victims to be involved, whether directly or indirectly, in the criminal justice system and in decisions which affect them.  The work should also establish positive ways of dealing with crime and offending which reduces future harm, and improve outcomes for all those affected by offending behaviour, whether victims, offenders, families or communities.

 

The Adult Restorative Justice Strategy sets out a comprehensive and strategic approach to the use of restorative justice in all aspects and at all stages of the adult criminal justice system.  It examines what restorative justice is, how it has developed in Northern Ireland to date, and how it might be embedded as a key principle in our adult criminal justice system based on evidence of its positive impact here and in other jurisdictions.

 

The Strategy and Action Plan has been developed in partnership with PPS, PSNI, PBNI, NIPS, YJA, Victim Support NI, Community Restorative Justice Ireland, Northern Ireland Alternatives and the Restorative Justice Forum.

 

To view Minister Long’s launch of the Adult Restorative Justice Strategy for NI, please click here.

To download the Adult Restorative Justice Strategy, please click here.

Advisory Panel appointed to review Developing Women in the Community Project

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Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced the appointment of an Advisory Panel to review ‘The Developing Women in the Community’ pilot programme and provide recommendations on the way forward.

 

The project is part of the cross-Executive Tackling Paramilitarism, Criminality & Organised Crime Programme and is being delivered across 14 areas to 254 participants.

 

The panel will be chaired by Louise Coyle, Director of Rural Women’s Network, who will be joined by a range of people working at grassroots, from across the women’s, voluntary and community sectors.

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Hargey appoints Advisory Panel to review the
Developing Women in the Community Project

Minister Hargey said:

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all panel members for their willingness to join the panel to assist delivery of intervention for women.  Their experience and input to the process will ensure constructive assessment of this very important area of work.

 

“I am delighted that women’s voices and their participation within the community is being developed.  The panel will be critical in ensuring that women take on active roles in promoting thriving communities, demonstrating the ability of future women as leaders and contributing to community wealth building.”

 

The Developing Women in the Community programme provides training and support to women of all ages, equipping and empowering them with the skills knowledge and confidence to become involved in transformational community development, helping to support and build capacity in local communities.  The programme is currently being delivered in 14 areas by a range of community based project delivery partners.

 

The panel has been asked to report within six weeks of the current programme completing on 31 March 2022.

  

For more details about the Developing Women in the Community Programme, please click here.