Exploring racial disparity in diversion from the youth justice system

This project will investigate racial disparities in diversion from the youth justice system (YJS). Children from minority ethnic backgrounds are overrepresented in the YJS. This is partly explained by decisions about whether children who come to police attention are diverted through informal measures, or receive formal outcomes (charge or caution).

The number of children entering the YJS has reduced significantly in recent years. This has been supported by the adoption of the ‘Child First’ approach by the Youth Justice Board (YJB). ‘Child First’ seeks to prevent the unnecessary criminalisation of children by taking a more progressive and inclusive approach to youth justice. This includes an emphasis on diversion from prosecution. However, the number of children from minority ethnic backgrounds entering the YJS has decreased less than the number of white children entering the YJS. More research is needed to explain the decisions driving racial disparities, why those decisions are made, and who makes the decisions.

This research will examine decision-making at the gateway to the YJS (initial contact with the police, including arrest). The aim of the research is to:

• Identify the extent and nature of racial disproportionality at the gateway to the YJS and illuminate factors that explain it.
• Produce recommendations for policy and practice, highlighting how decision-making would need to change to reduce racial disproportionality.

The mixed method study will be completed in two parts. The first stage will involve a review of all existing literature on racial disproportionality across the youth justice system, focusing on the gateway to the system and reduction strategies. A survey of 154 Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) in England and Wales will be used to determine the nature of diversion approaches, the rationale for using them, their outcomes, and examples of good practice. Depending on the quality and availability of administrative data, the research team’s second stage of work will involve detailed quantitative analysis in five case study sites and interviews with influential practitioners.

The project’s outputs are aimed at achieving maximum impact with policy makers and practitioners. Briefing meetings with the Youth Justice Board, National Police Chiefs Council, the College of Policing, and HM Inspectorate of Probation will feed the project’s results into the development and implementation of policy. Briefing papers and seminars will summarise and share findings with policy makers and practitioners working in the YJS.