Young people need life skills to keep them from crime and out of prison

Now a recent set of draft guidelines released by the Scottish Sentencing Council – on the back of research from the University of Edinburgh – has the potential to challenge Scotland’s approach to youth justice and how we support young people in trouble.

The research has found that brain development is an ongoing process which continues until approximately 25-30 years of age and imbalances in brain development explain the risk-taking, emotionally driven behaviour commonly attributed to young people, and which may include illegal activity. A young person’s maturity should be part of the judicial process when assessing their blameworthiness for an offence.

The guidelines also highlight the need to consider factors common to many young people who commit offences. Factors including adverse childhood experiences such as trauma or bereavement, addiction, insecure housing, family breakdown, low academic achievement and more.

Amelia Morgan, Venture Trust chief executive.

At Venture Trust we strongly support the Scottish Sentencing Council’s proposals that these factors need to be considered in delivering justice, while still recognising and addressing the harm of crime.

We support men and women caught up in the criminal justice system by offering intensive personal development and life skills support. This includes young people who have come from Scotland’s most deprived areas and are struggling with multiple and complex issues in their lives. Of our participants aged under 25 and caught up in the criminal justice system: 49 per cent have a history of substance misuse and 33 per cent have a history of alcohol abuse. Just under half (44 per cent) have mental health issues; almost a third (29 per cent) are homeless or at risk of homelessness; over 1 in 6 (18 per cent) are care leavers; 22 per cent have no experience of paid work and over one in eight (13 per cent) have literacy or numeracy problems. Nobody is facing just one of these issues: most of our participants must overcome three to five of these barriers to rehabilitation.

Significantly, the draft guidelines recognise young people have a greater capacity for change, and that rehabilitation should therefore be given greater emphasis when sentencing young people who have offended. It also considers how a short prison sentence may end up being a life sentence for many young people in terms of their future employment prospects.

Our support challenges people on criminal justice orders to confront the attitudes and behaviours that have got them here and gives them the capability and motivation to leave that behind and with skills to build a better future for themselves and their families.

Through a combination of work in the community and outdoors, we help individuals reflect on the choices they make and how these will affect both themselves and others. This is not the easy option and it does not let people off lightly. But unlike a short sentence in prison, we show people new ways to cope with stress and confrontation that help them avoid re-offending.

The Scottish Sentencing Council goes on to highlight evidence which suggests that most young people who offend begin to give up crime by their mid-twenties. This has been linked to the development of strong social bonds brought about by, among other things, getting a job or getting married (or entering a stable relationship), which can increase financial stability and improve emotional wellbeing.

We routinely support people for nine months or more and follow them up over time. Our evidence shows that when the issues and causes of offending are addressed, when wellbeing is improved and skills are acquired to make better life choices, young people do move away from crime and towards work, training, study and stability.

For young people in the justice system the best way to steer them away from crime is not to lock them up, but to empower them with the tools and skills to build positive relationships, get away from negative influences, get ready to get and hold on to a job, and just believe in themselves. These all have a huge impact on people’s desire to build a better life.

By focusing on prevention and supporting young people to overcome complex life circumstances and become contributors to their communities and Scottish society, we can reduce the harm of crime.

Scotland is facing some challenging times and our young people’s futures is such an important issue for all of us. Taking an informed approach and listening to our young people can reap real long-term positive change.

For more information visit our website www.venturetrust.org.uk

Amelia Morgan, Venture Trust chief executive

Young people need life skills to keep them from crime and out of prison – Amelia Morgan