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  1. Home
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  3. Thematic report on the prosecution of young people
  4. Cohort Review (explanation)

Thematic report on the prosecution of young people

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  • Thematic report on the prosecution of young people
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Inspection reports

27th November 2018

The Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland's thematic report on the prosecution of young people in the Sheriff and Justice of Peace courts.

Additional

  • Introduction
  • Key Terms
  • Key Findings
  • Recommendations
  • Chapter 1 – Criminal Justice Response to Youth Offending
  • Chapter 2 – Young People in the Criminal Justice System 2016/17
  • Cohort Review
  • Chapter 3 – Diversion
  • Court-based Initiatives
  • Chapter 4 – Solemn Proceedings
  • Chapter 5 – Road Traffic Offences
  • Footnotes
  • Cohort Review (explanation)

  • Introduction
  • Key Terms
  • Key Findings
  • Recommendations
  • Chapter 1 – Criminal Justice Response to Youth Offending
  • Chapter 2 – Young People in the Criminal Justice System 2016/17
  • Cohort Review
  • Chapter 3 – Diversion
  • Court-based Initiatives
  • Chapter 4 – Solemn Proceedings
  • Chapter 5 – Road Traffic Offences
  • Footnotes
  • Cohort Review (explanation)
Cohort case review which contains 95 young people. 81 individuals in the cohort were male with 1 individual aged 13 years, 9 individuals aged 15 years, 29 individuals aged 16 years and 42 individuals aged 17 years. 14 individuals in the cohort were female with 9 individuals were aged 16 years and 5 individuals were aged 17 years. The backgrounds of the 95 young people are listed in the graphic and also listed in the box below.

Above is a graphic showing the background of the Cohort case review.

Firstly, there were 35 reports which provided information on family circumstances. These included:

  • 17 who had social work involvement with the family.
  • 7 who had been removed from their family
  • 5 who had parent that were separated or divorced
  • 4 who had an indication of sexual abuse in the family
  • 4 who had suffered a bereavement
  • 4 who had a background of domestic violence within the family
  • 2 who had a background of substance misuse by their parents
  • 2 who had a background of offences committed by siblings. 

There were two individuals who had experienced 4 or more of the circumstances listed above.

There were two individuals who had experienced 3 of the above circumstances.

There were seven individuals who had experiences 2 of the above circumstances.

Secondly, there were also 42 reports which provided information on vulnerabilities. These included:

  • 24 who were involved in substance misuse
  • 11 who were in care or had been previously
  • 9 who had been reported as a missing person (some regularly)
  • 8 who were homeless or living in temporary accommodation
  • 7 who suffered from some sort of behavioural or neurological disorder
  • 6 who had truanted, been excluded or had left school at 15
  • 5 who had mental health problems
  • 3 who had suffered from neglect
  • 2 who had a learning disability
  • 1 who had a learning difficulty
  • 1 who had a developmental disability
  • 1 who suffered from ill-health

There were three individuals who had experienced 4 or more of the vulnerabilities listed above.

There were three individuals who had experienced 3 of the above vulnerabilities.

There were seventeen individuals who had experiences 2 of the above vulnerabilities.

In one case the SPR provided information on family circumstances and the Reporter provided the information regarding the vulnerabilities. 

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