Children and the Scottish Criminal Justice System

Author: Kirsty Deacon and Frazer McCallum

PDF Published: Monday 10 Jun 2024 (SB 24-31)

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Overview
Report

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Overview
Report
- Introduction
- Dealing with children in conflict with the law
  - The impact of the Kilbrandon Report
  - Current approach to dealing with offending
  - 16 and 17 year olds
- Age of criminal responsibility
  - Law and practice
  - Debate on appropriate age
- Children's Hearings System
  - Introduction
  - Key elements of the system
  - Possible changes to the children's hearings system
  - Referrals and hearings
- Criminal courts
  - Criminal proceedings and outcomes
  - Youth courts and structured deferred sentencing
- Children in custody
  - Introduction
  - Children in custody on remand
  - Children in custody having been sentenced
- Retention and disclosure of information
  - Introduction
  - Retention of information
  - Disclosure of information
  - Previous criminal convictions
  - Children's hearings
Sources

Line graph showing the number of children under the age of 18 referred to the Children's Reporter on offence grounds falling from 17,361 in 2005-06 to 2,637 in 2022-23.

Image: Chart 1: Children under 18 referred on offence grounds

Line graph showing the number of children under the age of 18 with a decision to arrange a hearing on offence grounds has fallen from 2,248 in 2005-06 to 79 in 2022-23.

Image: Chart 2: Children under 18 with decision to arrange hearing on offence grounds

Line graph showing the number of proceedings against children under the age of 16 in the criminal courts has fallen from 172 in 2005-06 to 2 in 2021-22.

Image: Chart 3: Proceedings against children under 16 in the criminal courts

Line graph showing the number of proceedings against children age 16 and 17 years old in the criminal courts has fallen from 9,202 in 2005-06 to 619 in 2021-22.

Image: Chart 4: Proceedings against children aged 16 and 17 in the criminal courts

Line graph showing that the total number of 16 and 17 year olds experiencing imprisonment in a year fell from 628 in 2009/10 to 49 in 2022/23.

Image: Chart 5: Total number of 16 and 17 year olds held in a YOI each year

Bar graph showing the numbers of children committed or remanded to secure accommodation under Section 51 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 from 2014/15 to 2021/22.

Image: Chart 6: Children committed or remanded to secure accommodation under Section 51 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995

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Last Updated: 5/12 7:20pm