We recognise that the youth justice system can be difficult to navigate, especially for children and young adults. In this section of the Hub you will find easily accessible resources targeted at children and young adults. These resources can be accessed directly or shared by organisations.
If you are an organisation with resources you would like to feature on this page, please use the ‘contact us’ button below, giving a brief explanation of the resource and relevant links, and our Resource Hub team will be in contact
What does it mean?
The following videos explain some of the common outcomes for children and young adults that have come into contact with the youth justice system.
What is an Out of Court Disposal (OOCD)?
Created by Sandwell Youth Justice Service this video explains what it means when your are given a Out of Court Disposal.
What is a Referral Order?
Created by Sandwell Youth Justice Service this video explains what it means when your are given a Referral Order
What is a Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO)?
Created by Sandwell Youth Justice Service this video explains what it means when your are given a Youth Rehabilitation Order.
What is a Detention Training Order (DTO)?
Created by Sandwell Youth Justice Service this video explains what it means when your are given a Detention Training Order.
What is Diversion?
In collaboration with the Centre For Justice Innovation Reality-art created a short video explaining diversion, a pathway that is offered to young people who are caught up in the Criminal Justice System as an alternative to going court.
At the Police Station
Created by the Youth Justice Legal Centre, this video explains what happens and what you can expect when you’re taken to the police station, including how to ask for legal advice, the police interview process, the possible ways you may be charged, and bail.
Stop and Search: Know your rights
Created by the Youth Justice Legal Centre, this video explains your rights and what to expect if you are stopped by the police by explaining the difference between stop and search and stop and account, when you can be searched, and what makes a search unlawful.
What is Restorative Justice?
Created by Sandwell Youth Justice Service this video explains what is mean by Restorative Justice
Experiences
This section contains videos produced in collaboration with children and young adults in contact with the youth justice system. Detailing their experiences.
Judged
Youth Justice Legal Centre have launched a powerful short animation based on the accounts of children and young people of what it feels like going through the criminal courts.
Digital Me
In January 2023 Gateshead Youth Justice Service produced a Digital Me video. Several young people helped to co – produce an animated film capturing their experiences of how they became involved in offending behaviours, their experiences of the
Youth Justice Service and what worked for them to stop offending.
Joint Enterprise – Secondary School Version
Created in collaboration with young people, this video show a group of young people describing how an incident involving a knife can have a devastating impact on so many, as well as leading to lengthy sentences for those involved through Joint Enterprise.
Joint Enterprise – Primary School Version
Created in collaboration with young people, this video show a group of young people describing how an incident involving a knife can have a devastating impact on so many, as well as leading to lengthy sentences for those involved through Joint Enterprise.
Child and young adult friendly research
This section aims to highlight research and resources tailored to a younger audience in an easily digestible format.
Children, violence & vulnerability 2023 Summary
The second annual Youth Endowment Fund report into young people’s experiences of violence. Explore the interactive summary report.
CHOOSE: What can young people do?
An infographic created by The McPin Foundation looking at how the Covid-19 pandemic impacted youth mental health and what young people can do.
How can we improve school life for LGBTQ+ young people?
An infographic created by The McPin Foundation based on the Universal School Interventions project, from conversations with schools, young people and governors about how to make school better for LGBTQ+ young people
Understanding ethnic disparity in reoffending rates in the youth justice system
Independent research exploring why reoffending rates among children are higher among some ethnic minority groups.
Young Advocates for Youth Justice: A youth-led report about keeping children and young people out of the justice system
This second report from the Young Advocates Project presents findings from engagement with 90 children and young people across England and Wales, and focuses on the three priority topics of criminalisation, policing, and intervention and diversion. The aim was to explore the routes into the justice system for young people, as compared to pathways out and away from it. In response to the findings, the Young Advocates developed a series of recommendations for decision-makers to address these challenges.
Disclaimer: Unless indicated as a Youth Justice Board (YJB) product, all resources on this page, including media & research articles, are created by organisations within the youth justice sector. These resources are not owned by the YJB but are simply linked to this site and are available within the public domain. The YJB is not responsible for the content of these resources, nor does it claim ownership over them.