Racial disparities in youth justice category shortlist 2022

No Comment Pathway, Sussex Police & Sussex Youth Justice Service

The Lammy review 2017 contained 35 recommendations to address racial bias in the criminal justice system. The review highlighted a lack of trust in the criminal justice system by Black and minoritised communities made them less likely to cooperate with police or trust legal advice, thus resulting in more ‘not guilty’ pleas being entered. This led to convictions, harsher sentences and early entry to the criminal justice system. Crucially missing the opportunity for diversion, out of court sanctions and ultimately receiving disproportionate outcomes in comparison to white peer groups. 

Sussex Police and local authority partners worked in consultation with the Youth Justice Board and devised the No Comment Pathway. The No Comment Pathway focuses on children and young people who have given a ‘no comment’ interview which would otherwise exclude them from an Out of Court Disposal and leave them more likely to attract a charge to court.  

Rather than charge the young person with the offence, a referral is submitted to the Youth Justice Service. The approach seeks to utilise the Youth Justice Service assessments (where necessary) and hold multi-agency discussions in order to understand the young person’s individual circumstances fully in order to provide bespoke diversionary activity. 

Find more information on The No Comment Pathway’s aim, criteria and process here.

Website: www.Sussex.Police.uk
Twitter: @Sussex_Police

The Call In Programme, Golden Key

Established in February 2019, The Call In is a diversionary scheme based in East Central Bristol aimed at reducing street conflict, drug related offending and recognising child criminal exploitation. Drawing on recommended approaches detailed in the 2017 Lammy Review, The Call In focuses on young people from Black and minoritised communities; those who are found to be less likely to have opportunity or access to diversion schemes and over represented in prison populations. The Call In aims to divert young people away from crime by providing one-to-one mentoring support and a programme of bespoke activities including culturally specific interventions to help young people fulfil their potential and achieve positive life changes. The Call In operates as a partnership between Golden Key, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Office of Police and Crime Commission and Bristol City Council. 

Find a visual map of The Call In here, and an overview of their process here. 

Website: https://www.goldenkeybristol.org.uk/the-call-in 
Twitter: @GoldKeyBristol 
Email: [email protected] 

Download The Lammy Review here.

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