Young People, Crime and Criminal Justice; Patterns and Prospects for the Future

This article gives a brief outline of juvenile crime and the operation of the juvenile justice system in Northern Ireland. It looks critically at how the justice system works and at some recent developments in practice and legislation, and it considers some of the obstacles and opportunities that are emerging at a time of change, especially following the Good Friday Agreement. The article first provides some general facts and figures on crime and victimization in Northern Ireland to place the debate in context. The article then provides details about the nature and extent of juvenile crime and describes the various stages of the criminal justice process, from police contact, to the sentencing of the juvenile court, to the operation of various court disposals. Prospects for the future in the treatment of juveniles in the Northern Irish criminal justice process are discussed.