LONDON, Dec. 19 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

Ourunderstanding of ethnic disproportionality in the youth justice system has deepenedover the past few years.

While earlier thinking focused heavily on the numbers - which remaincritical-our lenscontinues towiden to consider the structural and institutional factorsthat create and sustain inequality.This broadeningconsidersboth theformal system andthefactors'prior'to the system. Thisis crucial because, despite our concerted activity to shine a light on this issue, Black and Mixed ethnicity continue to be over-represented atalmost everystage in the youth justice system.

Disparities linked to race often begin earlier in a child's life and continue to shape results throughout the system:

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Persistent poverty:In 2022 21%of Black children and 32% of Asian children lived in persistent low-income households compared with 17% ofWhite children (after housing costs).

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Special educational needs(SEN)recognition:9.1% of Asian children, 11.7% of Black children, and 13.6% of Mixed ethnicity children havearecognised SEN, compared to 15.4% of white children.

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School exclusions:Black Caribbean pupils in England face permanent school exclusion rates three times higher than White British pupils.

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Child death rate:The child death rate for Black children is 55.4 per 100,000-more than double the rate for White British children (22.9 per 100,000)

We must continue to respond to any evidence that the youth justice systemisn'tequitablefor all children but, as these statistics show, we mustalso strengthen partnership working. This must happenat a local authority and national leveland involve a range of agenciessuch aseducation,healthandhousingas well as the police andjustice system.

Analysing potential areasofprogressisjustas important.In ouryouth justice statistics,wehaveseensmallreductionsfor Black childrenin the useof remand,reoffendingratesandnumbersin custodyover the lastten years.Whereas the proportion of children with Mixed ethnicity in custody has doubled over the past decade.Why is this happening?This is something we must understand and, more importantly, work together to prevent it.

Adultification in action

Within the system,Black children are all too often seen as older, less innocent, and less vulnerable than their peers. This is a practice known as 'adultification' and we are seeing growing evidence of its prevalence in the system. It is surfacing throughout the system, from assessments and reports through to decisions and outcomes. For example, in our independently commissioned research on pre-sentence reports, we discovered that the language used in these reports differed depending on the child's ethnicity. Black children tended to be referred to with the more formal language you would expect to find in adult courts. This could potentially minimise their vulnerability or circumstances, placing more emphasis on their choices and maturity to resist, which is a hallmark of adultification bias. 

At the YJB, wecontinue to use our influence to press the system to uncover and dismantle any biases that shape decisions and outcomes. This directly aligns with the Child First evidence base and decision-making framework, ensuring every intervention is developmentally informed and prioritises the child's best interests.

The most potent evidence of this bias is found in risk assessments.Analysis shows that practitioner assessments of the likelihood of reoffending are inflated for Black childrenby 37.2 percentage points. That is almost double thatof White children and shows that Black children are considered a higher'risk'.This is adultification in action.More information on adultification as well as otheranti-racism resourcesareon theYouth Justice Resource Hub

Disparity in remand

Even when we control for demographic characteristics, offence profile, and history, significant disproportionality persists in critical areas. Nowhere is this moreapparentand urgent than in remand.

Black and Mixed ethnicity children are more likely than White children to receive a custodial remand outcome. For Black children, this likelihoodremains+7 percentage points higher, even after accounting for offence severity.

This bias makes Black children appear less favourable for community-based options. Compounding this, a lack of suitable accommodation for children on bail often results in custodial remand by default.

This unnecessary detention is actively detrimental. In the year ending March 2024, 62% of children remanded in custody did not go on to be sentenced to remain there. Higher remand rates for Black and ethnic minority children actively disadvantage them more than their White peers, accelerating their contact with a system that should be acting as a safeguard.

Structural reform and promising practice

Akeycharacteristic of our change of approach is our renewed focus on structural reform. This meansrecognising that persistent disproportionality is shaped by both individual practiceas well asthe policies,processesand system conditions. For example,howrisk is assessed, custody isusedordecisions are made about children.

We have invested in community-based alternatives to custody addressing the urgent lack of suitable supported housing (as seen through the London Accommodation Pathfinder).We are also promoting co-productionas a means toreshape the system. This means ensuringthatthe voices of children and families arecentral to the decision-making process, such asthrough action-planning roundtables with children and practitioners.

Finally, we are sharing examples of effective practice where culturally sensitiveand anti-racistprogrammes are delivering results. This includes funding the development of trauma-informed programmes that explicitly recognise and respond to racism and prejudice (such as ourAddressingEthnicDisparity pathfinder).

I am excited by the tangible resultsI'mseeingacross England and Wales. To give you a flavour of some of these fantastic projects:

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The Ether Programme (Wiper Youth) is addressing race and identity with ethnic minority boys and young men.To date, it has achieved an impressive 86% reduction in reoffending and 92% reported improved confidence/self-esteem.

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Kitchen Table Talks (First Class Foundation)is supporting the parents of children involved in the youth justice system, tailored todifferent cultures.It has led to an increase in parent well-being and confidence, reducing isolation and feelings of shame.

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Islingtonaltereditspre-sentence reports to include statements on local over-representation data and adultification. Sentencers found the statements useful in decision-making, and Islington is reporting a reduction in the over-representation of Black and Mixed ethnicity children in remand and sentencing outcomes.

We mustalso not underestimate thepositiveimpact of sport and physical activity.The success of Levelling the Playing Fieldprogrammeshows us that when we invest in children, particularly those from under-represented and marginalised communities, we see positive outcomes.Programmes like thisdemonstratethat it is possible to break down barriers, engage children in meaningful ways, and help them move towards brighter futures.

Many other examples of promising practice are on theYouth Justice Resource Hub

Our commitment

Despite progressbeing made,it is too slow andBlack and Mixed ethnicity children arestillbeing failed by socioeconomic inequality, making them more likely to enter the youth justice system. This is systemic racism.

The youth justice system has the potential to reduce, plateau, or accelerate that racial disparity for the children who come into it. We must actively choose to reduce it. Our evolving approach reflects a commitment to fairness, accountability, and a youth justice system that treats every child as a child and tackles the inequalities that have gone unchallenged for too long.

Sources:

* Youth Justice Statistics: 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK * Persistent low income - GOV.UK Ethnicity facts and figures * Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Autumn term 2023/24 - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK  * Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2022/23 - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK * Child death data release 2024, National Child Mortality Database  * Youth Justice Board (2021)EthnicDisproportionality in Remand and Sentencing Report.p.8

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.