About Hounslow Youth Justice Service (YJS)
The youth justice system for England and Wales was established through the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, with the aim of preventing young people from offending or re-offending.
It is overseen nationally by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales and is delivered locally through youth justice teams.
The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is ten years old, and young people are treated as adults in the eyes of the law when they turn eighteen.
The Hounslow Youth Justice Service (YJS) works with children and young people aged 10 to 17 who are at risk of offending or have already become involved in crime. The service brings together staff from a range of organisations to make sure the right support is in place. These organisations include:
- education
- health
- police
- probation
- social care
We also work closely with:
- victims of crime
- families
- local community safety partners
Our main purpose is to prevent children and young people becoming involved in anti-social behaviour (ASB) and offending behaviour. We help children and young people:
- take responsibility for their actions
- understand the impact of crime
- make positive choices for their future
What we do in Hounslow YJS:
- provide early help and prevention programmes to steer children and young people away from ASB and offending behaviour
- provide guidance and support to parents/carers, for example training sessions on parenting adolescents
- offer voluntary support for children and young people and families who may need guidance and support. This could include children and young people subject to bail conditions, have committed ASB or may have committed minor offences.
- support children and young people and parents/carers when attending court
- supervise community-based court orders
- stay involved with children and young people who receive a custodial sentence, ensuring support continues after release
- work alongside victims of crime, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights in the Code of Practice are adhered to
Our approach includes:
- Early identification and assessment: Working closely with police, schools, social care, to identify young people who may be at risk of offending or reoffending, ensuring that support is offered at the right time.
- Early help and prevention: Linking children, young people and families into early help services that offer ongoing practical and emotional support, helping to build resilience and reduce the likelihood of future offending.
- Diversion from the formal system: Delivering out of-court disposals that give children and young people the chance to take responsibility for their actions without acquiring a criminal record, where appropriate.
- Pre-sentence engagement: For those progressing through court, providing pre-sentence reports and assessments to help inform appropriate and proportionate sentencing options that prioritise rehabilitation.
- Restorative approaches: Encouraging accountability and reparation by involving victims where possible and promoting understanding of the impact of offending behaviour. Working with victims of crime and ensuring they are consulted, kept safe and have up to date information.
Prevention and early help
We focus on preventing offending in the first place. Through early intervention and close partnership working, we aim to:
- reduce first time entrants to the youth justice system
- support young people to make positive life choices
- improve long-term outcomes for young people, their families, and the wider community
We offer early help and targeted support to provide guidance for children and young people who may be at risk. Support can take place in schools, family homes, or in the community.
The work is designed to help children and young people:
- understand the consequences of their choices
- build skills and resilience
- strengthen family and peer relationships
- find positive opportunities for the future
Contact
- email: youthoffendingservice@hounslow.gov.uk
- phone: 020 8583 6363
