Youth Justice Service (YJS)

Youth Justice Services are at the forefront of the Government's agenda to reduce crime, particularly youth crime. Set up under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, each youth offending service must consist of representatives from probation, social care, health, education and the police to deliver co-ordinated youth justice services.

In Southampton, our key partners are:

• Southampton Children and Families Service
• Hampshire Constabulary
• National Probation Service
• Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group

Our role is to support children to achieve positive outcomes and keep everyone safe.  We aim to support those impacted by crime and give all harmed people and children the opportunity engaged in a restorative justice process. We work to reduce the factors which place children at risk of offending including:

• Understanding reasons for offending behaviour. The YJS complete a thorough assessment which includes the voice of the child, carers and those impacted by the crime
• We co-creating robust, individualised and meaningful plans with young people, carers and (should they wish to be involved) those impacted by crime
• Work in partnership with agencies to ensure children have access to specialist services such as mental health services, speech and language or substance misuse service
• Support children back into education, training or employment