Exploring the Impact and Implications of Covid-19 on the Youth Justice System - End of Project Event

Expert panel of speakers

On Wednesday 27th April 2022, the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies (MCYS), along with the Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ), hosted the Exploring the Impact and Implications of Covid-19 on the Youth Justice System (YJS) – End of Project Event.  This was a hybrid event, both in-person and online via Zoom, attended by professionals from across all parts of the YJS, some of whom had been interviewed as part of the research.  The aim of the day was to share our research findings in relation to the impact of Covid-19 on the courts, community, and youth custody.  It provided an opportunity for delegates to discuss the findings and their own experience of how Covid-19 has impacted on their work and future challenges for the YJS coming out of the pandemic.  Additionally, there was an expert panel of youth justice professionals that took part in a lively audience ‘Questions and Answers’ session.  Finally, there was a chance for delegates to anonymously provide messages they wished to feedback to parliament for a future parliamentary policy event on the 20th of June 2022.

Some of the main areas and themes covered included: the Youth Courts – the Cloud Video Platform allowing court business to continue, and the impact of delays and social distancing measures; Youth Offending Teams - adaptations and challenges to practice and service delivery, children’s welfare and vulnerabilities, partnership working, and a national picture from the findings of the online survey; Youth Custody reporting differences between a youth offending institution and a secure children’s home, experience of isolation, contacts and visits from family, friends and professionals, mental health and wellbeing, education and recreation, staff morale and regime changes.  All presentations included challenges and re-thinking for each part of the YJS going forward.  The policy development session included reviewing youth justice policies post-pandemic and preventing the criminalisation of children, as well as informing delegates of the final policy briefing about youth custody, due to be published soon.  Key messages to feedback to parliament, from our digital audience engagement platform included:

“Children should not have to pay for the use of a phone in custody which is vital to their mental health (and to make a profit out of them is shameful).”

“Create a child friendly, child first court room.”

“Trauma informed practice to be a training package for all involved in the youth justice system.”

“Invest in youth services.”   “Invest in youth justice early intervention and prevention offer.”

“The gap between justice experienced children and non-justice experienced children was already huge, significantly increased by the pandemic.  Do not let it get any bigger!! Listen to the experts!!”

“Further investment in evaluation, building knowledge and identifying/sharing effective practice is now more important than ever.”

All our Impact of Covid-19 on the Youth Justice System publications can be found here:

https://www.mmu.ac.uk/mcys/current-research--activities/covid-19-and-youth-justice/

Follow MCYS on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/mcys_mmu?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

For more information contact Professor Hannah Smithson: H.L.Smithson@mmu.ac.uk