NCJ Number
157241
Date Published
1994
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This paper proposes ways in which progress can be made in England and Wales in safely reducing the number of juveniles held in custody and secure accommodation, while ensuring that the public is protected from offending by those on bail.
Abstract
NACRO's (National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders) Young Offenders Committee agrees with Lord Justice Woolf's assessment that, despite steps already taken to reduce numbers, there are still people on remand in prison and police cells who should not be there. The Committee particularly welcomes the Government's commitment to end remands in custody for young people aged 15 and 16. To facilitate the ending of custodial remands and to improve the remand management process, the Committee believes that there are a number of important steps that could be taken. Among the recommendations are that the Government harmonize pretrial arrangements for all young people under the age of 18 with a clear timetable for implementation. Further, the Government should legislate to ensure that, in any proceeding outside the youth court that involves a young person under 18, if bail cannot be granted, the court should remand the young person to local-authority accommodation until he/she can be brought before the next available youth court. Nine other recommendations pertain to a review of the pretrial process for youth, access to bail information schemes, bail support, and modification of the Bail Act.