Children in criminal justice system need better support

Children and young people with mental health problems who are caught up in the criminal justice system are not getting the right support, according to an analysis released by YoungMinds and the Prison Reform Trust today.

Despite improvements in mental health services for children, health and criminal justice services are still not working together to ensure vulnerable young people get the right support, the briefing paper states.

The paper, which is for staff in the NHS and criminal justice system, also found that 20,000 children a year caught up in the criminal justice system have very low IQs. High numbers of children who offend also have other health, care and education needs which, if not met, could lead to a lifetime of unemployment, ill health and crime.

The report finds that:-

    Around 25% of children who offend have very low IQs of less than 70.
    43% of children are on community orders mental health and care needs, and the prevalence amongst children in custody is much higher.
    60% of children who offend have communication difficulties and, of this group, around half have poor, or very poor, communication skills.

Sarah Brennan, Chief Executive of YoungMinds, said: “This briefing paper makes a range of practical recommendations to improve the system of justice, care and support to the one in three children with a mental health problem who offend. If we don’t get these children the support they need early on then not only are we destroying their lives but we are failing to protect communities and wasting money.

“We very much hope this briefing is acted on as a matter of urgency.”

The briefing paper encourages effective joint working between Health and Wellbeing Boards and youth justice services to ensure that local strategies reflect the needs of children and young people who offend, especially those with mental health problems and learning disabilities.

It outlines a practical action agenda and provides examples of good practice on integrating services.

Juliet Lyon, Director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: “Too many youngsters are slipping through the net of care and support. Services need to work together to help young people to turn their lives around. This would have a major impact on improving health, reducing unemployment and tackling youth crime.”

The Briefing Paper ‘Turning young lives around: How health and justice services can respond to children with mental health problems and learning disabilities who offend’ is available here.

http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/turningyounglivesaroundFINAL.pdf