The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS)

First Biennial ConferenceSlieve Russell Hotel, March 2008

Michelle Shannon, National Director

The Irish Youth Justice Service

Welcome & Overview

Our Mission is…

To create a safer society by working in partnership to reduce youth offending through appropriate interventions and

linkages into services

IYJS Remit To provide leadership in the Youth Justice System;

Develop a unified youth justice policy including crime prevention;

Devise and implement a national youth justice strategy with links to other child related strategies;

Manage all youth detention facilities;

Manage the implementation of the provisions of the Children Act 2001 in relation to community sanctions, restorative justice conferencing and diversion projects;

Establish and administer a national youth justice oversight group and local youth justice teams;

Link with other areas of Children’s Policy (OMC).

Children Act 2001 - General Principles Diversion

Restorative Justice

Community Sanctions

Detention as a last resort

IYJS High Level Goals HLG 1: To provide leadership and build confidence in the youth

justice system.

HLG 2: To work to reduce offending by diverting young people from offending behaviour.

HLG 3: To promote the greater use of community sanctions and initiatives to deal with young people who offend.

HLG 4: To provide a safe and secure environment for detained children which will assist their early re-integration into thecommunity.

HLG 5: To strengthen and develop information and datasources in the youth justice system to support more effective policies and services.

Vision for the future Effective Programmes

Evidence Based Policies and Practice

Value for Money

Good Outcomes

Best Practices

Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS)

Thank you.

Michelle Shannon, National Director