Introduction

So far you’ve had the opportunity to learn about the youth justice system in England and Wales, and you’ve begun to appreciate the diversity of practice and policy that occurs throughout the UK. Nowhere is this more obvious than in Scotland where the phrase ‘youth justice’ does not even feature in the name of the system. The system in Scotland is dominated by what are known as ‘Children’s Hearings’. What could be more different from the prevailing focus on offenders and punishment that characterises the system established by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 in England and Wales? The reasons behind this different approach in Scotland are the focus of your learning in this session.

By the end of this session, you should be able to:

• recognise the main features of the Scottish Children’s Hearings system
• identify the significance of the Kilbrandon Commission to the Hearings’ development
• understand the way the system has been changing.