NCJ Number
143625
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 33 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1993) Pages: 216-230
Date Published
1993
Length
15 pages
Annotation
In August 1988, the Great Britain Home Office called upon the English and Welsh probation services to provide the courts with noncustodial alternatives to deal with offenders between the ages of 17 and 20. Certain probation services were selected to set up intensive probation programs for young adult offenders who otherwise would be sentenced to prison.
Abstract
As a result of this directive, the Leeds Young Adult Offenders Project was instituted in 1989. Known as The Edge, the program is a joint effort between the West Yorkshire Probation Service and the National Children's Home, with additional funding provided by the Home Office. Referrals to The Edge are made by probation officers before or during the process of preparing a presentence report. An independent team evaluated the first two years of operating of The Edge, collecting data from a sample of 303 cases and examining the impact of the project upon court sentencing practice. The Edge seems to be attracting referrals of those in its target age group who are at serious risk of custody, indicating it is operating as a genuine replacement for custody. 7 tables, 10 notes, and 42 references