Youth Justice
- What is the Irish Youth Justice Service?
- What is the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme?
- What are Garda Youth Diversion Projects?
- What is a community sanction?
- What are anti-social behaviour measures (ASBOs)?
- What is the purpose of children detention schools?
- Where are the children detention schools?
- How do I contact the Irish Youth Justice Service?
1. What is the Irish Youth Justice Service?
The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) was set up in The Department of Justice and Equality by the Government. It was set up to manage and improve services to children under the age of 18 who get into trouble with the law or who are at risk of doing so. These services include the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme, Garda Diversion Projects, community sanctions, anti-social behaviour measures and the management of children detention schools.
2. What is the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme?
If a child under the age of 18 years accepts responsibility for an offence he/she has committed, then the child may receive a caution from a member of An Garda Síochána rather than a prosecution. The decision to give a caution depends on whether the child admits that he/she committed the offence, how serious the offence was and the previous criminal history of the child.
The Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme is run by the Garda Juvenile Liaison Office.
3. What are Garda Youth Diversion Projects?
Garda Youth Diversion Projects are community-based activities to help children move away from doing things which might get them or their friends into trouble with the law.
There are 84 Diversion Projects across Ireland. This is due to increase to 100 by the end of 2007. They offer opportunities for children to become involved in positive activities and stay away from the courts system and out of custody. They are funded by The Department of Justice and Equality, run by local management companies and administered by the Garda Community Relations Section.
4. What is a community sanction?
If a child goes to court and is found or pleads guilty to a crime, a judge can decide to sentence the child to a community sanction. This means that the child will receive an order from the court to do some service in his/her community. This allows the child to stay in school and at home in their community.
There are 10 community sanctions from which the judge can choose, for example community service, intensive supervision or a day centre order.
5. What are anti-social behaviour measures (ASBOs)?
A number of measures to address anti-social behaviour by children were introduced in March 2007. Behaviour orders offer an alternative way of dealing with anti-social behaviour by children other than going through the criminal process. There are a series of steps which must be undertaken before a senior member of An Garda Síochána can seek a behaviour order through the courts. A behaviour order will remain in force for a maximum period of two years.
For more information, please see www.asboireland.ie.
6. What is the purpose of children detention schools?
When a child gets into trouble with the law and is charged with a crime, the court tries to make sure that the child can stay in school and be part of the community but still deal with the consequences of the child’s actions.
However, if the court cannot find any other option available to address the offences that a child has committed, the court will send the child to a children detention school. Detention schools provide educational, training and other programmes and facilities. They provide proper care and guidance for children and help them to take their place back into the community.
7. Where are the children detention schools?
There are three children detention schools: Oberstown Boys School, Oberstown Girls School, and Trinity House – which are all located on Oberstown Campus in Lusk, Co. Dublin.
8. How do I contact the Irish Youth Justice Service?
Our contact details are available in the Irish Youth Justice page on the website.