Preventing children becoming young offenders
Description
In Scotland, the average age of offenders is just 18. Cases involving children are referred to the Children鈥檚 Reporter who can take no further action, arrange a children鈥檚 hearing or divert the child to social work.
Barnardo鈥檚 run a social work scheme which aims to prevent children becoming persistent offenders. When a child has perpetrated or been the victim of an offence, or where a child is beyond parental control, a Children鈥檚 Hearing can be called. This may impose a supervision requirement or place a child in care.
Classroom Ideas
This clip could be used to illustrate the responsibilities of The Children鈥檚 Reporter. Following the clip, students could work in groups to discuss what they believe are the causes of crime, and why some children are more likely to be involved in crime? The provision of social care through Barnardo鈥檚 shown in the clip can lead to discussion of the roles of the state and voluntary sectors in this area. The class could discuss the age of criminal responsibility. In Scotland, criminal responsibility starts at age 8, with prosecution possible from age 12. Students could discuss how the age of resposibility varies between different countries and the basis for why each age has been chosen.
Crime, law and the justice system
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