What evidence is there that Scotland tries to operate an early intervention model?
In Scotland, the Early and Effective Intervention programme is underpinned
by the principles of GIRFEC (Getting it right for every child) and the UNCRC
(United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child) and is a whole system
approach where agencies work together to try and prevent offending
taking place. For example, Police Scotland produced their ‘Children and
Young People: Our Approach’ report which outlined how they work with
agencies including schools, hospitals, communities and social work to try
and achieve early and effective intervention.
The Early Intervention Foundation estimated that ‘late intervention’ costs
England and Wales almost ____ __________ a year on services such as the
criminal justice system, hospitalisation and incarceration.
£17 billion
The Centre for Youth Crime and Justice stated that …
‘Children
who start offending or demonstrating significant emotional and
behavioural difficulties under 12 years are two to three times more likely
to become involved in persistent and serious or violent offending than
their peers’
What is Chance UK?
Chance UK is an example of an early intervention programme that focuses
on providing children with mentors. Parents or teachers can make a
referral if a child is suffering behavioural difficulties and the child meets
with a mentor. They do activities and the mentors are all trained in
dealing with trauma-based issues. Chance UK state that in 2020, 93% of the
children they worked with had decreased behavioural problems in school.
In the long run, this helps to prevent crime taking place as children with
behavioural problems in school are more likely to become involved in risky
behaviour or offending
What is New Zealand’s equivalent of Chance UK.
In New Zealand, there is a similar approach called
TYLA (Turn Your Life Around). It was started because it was estimated that
one in twenty young people in New Zealand were known to the police
before the age of 14. TYLA uses one-to-one mentoring to try and show
young people a positive future and to prevent offending. Both the New
Zealand and UK Governments believe that having a mentor can balance out
the influence of anti-social peers and have a positive effect on reducing
offending.
No Knives, Better Lives is an example of how an early
intervention programme can be successful. Why?
No Knives, Better Lives has
been praised as helping make Scotland a safer place for young people. The
programme educated young people in schools and communities about the
dangers of carrying a knife. Over the ten-year period after No Knives,
Better Lives started, the number of crimes of handling an offensive
weapon recorded by police in Glasgow decreased by 71%.
What evidence is there that prevention is better than cure?
the Scottish Prison Service costing the Scottish
Government over £400 million each year and, according to the Howard
League for Penal Reform, the economic and social costs of reoffending in
Scotland costing around £3 billion a year, it is clear that there is a need to
understand and tackle the causes of crime rather than focusing on the
punishment of offenders.
What national programme is EEI a core part of?
“EEI… forms a core aspect within the Whole System Approach (WSA).”
Which international convention underpins EEI?
“EEI must be anchored in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)….”
What UNCRC article supports dealing with children without judicial proceedings?
“UNCRC Article 40 (3) (b)… measures for dealing with such children without resorting to judicial proceedings…”
What principle guides EEI in terms of intervention level?
“In adherence with the minimal intervention principle – only being offered where it is appropriate.”
What is the current legal definition of a child in Scotland under the 1995 and 2011 Acts?
“Define ‘children’ as… under 16… and those 16 and 17… subject to a Compulsory Supervision Order.”
What Act will change the definition of a child to under 18 for criminal procedure?
The Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act.
“Will change the definitions of a child to anyone under 18…”
What Scottish study strongly influenced EEI policy?
The Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime.
“The Edinburgh Study… was influential in shifting policy and practice…”
According to the Edinburgh Study, what is serious offending associated with?
Victimisation and social adversity.
“Serious offending behaviour is associated with victimisation and social adversity.”
What does research warn about early identification of ‘at‑risk’ children?
It may be damaging long‑term.
“Early identification… is not a watertight process and may be damaging in the longer term.”
What approach emphasises responding to children’s needs, not deeds?
The Kilbrandon philosophy.
“We should be responding to children’s needs not deeds…”
What does CFOS stand for?
Children First, Offenders Second.
“The Children First, Offenders Second (CFOS) approach…”
What risk does EEI face if driven by crime‑control agendas?
Labelling and stigmatising children.
“This then results in children being labelled and stigmatised at an early age.”
What has research shown about EEI’s ‘informal’ status?
It often functions as an extension of the formal system.
“In reality this is an extension of the formal youth justice system…”
What is a key predictor of future system contact?
Previous formal system contact.
“Formal system contact was found to be a significant indicator of future system contact.”
What neighbourhood factor predicts childhood offending?
“Living in persistent poverty at the neighbourhood level remains a key predictor of childhood offending…”
Where does most anti‑social behaviour occur?
Areas of economic and social deprivation.
“Most anti-social behaviour… takes place in areas of economic and social deprivation…”
What 1964 report underpins Scotland’s Children’s Hearings System?
The Kilbrandon Report.
“The Kilbrandon Report 1964… established the Children’s Hearings System.”
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Biological Theories of Crime34
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Psychological Theories of Crime24
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Sociological Theories of Crime50
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Theories of punishment47
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Purpose of punishment18
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Early intervention64
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Multi agency approaches3
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Perception and measurement of crime13
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Cost of crime76
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Custodial vs non custodial48
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Law and order research methods69
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Society's Response to Crime58
