Juvenile Justice Centre (Northern Ireland) Rules 2007

The current juvenile justice centre rules were commenced on 1 April 1999 at a time
when following legislative changes the number of children in custody had reduced
significantly. Since then, guided by the Criminal Justice Review, the youth justice
system has undergone a further programme of major change, in particular the
creation of the Youth Justice Agency (replacing the former Juvenile Justice Board), the
creation of a single juvenile justice centre in Bangor and the construction of a new
purpose built centre on the same site, due for completion by the end of 2006.

These changes have necessitated a review of the current juvenile justice centre rules
but have also provided an opportunity to reflect new practice which has developed
within the sector in relation to the management of children in custody in the
intervening period. In addition it has been decided to take this opportunity to extend
the current rules to cover the supervision period which is an integral part of a juvenile
justice centre order; although for legal reasons it has proved necessary for this to be
in the form of separate rules.

The nature and purpose of such rules is to provide a statutory framework of basic
rights and principles, informed by best practice and international guidance, for the
management of and discipline in a juvenile justice centre and the regulation of the
supervision of a juvenile justice centre order. Full effect is then given to the rules
through the development and application of a range of operational standards, policies
and procedures.

Throughout the development of the new rules there has been consultation with key
stakeholders, service deliverers and the voluntary sector. Consultation with children
has been commissioned and will be taken forward as a separate exercise during the
consultation period.

The legislative nature of Statutory Rules places constraints on the structure, layout
and nature of the language which can be used. Consequently, a child friendly
version of the document will be produced. Gender references within Statutory Rules
are male but apply equally in law to male and female unless otherwise specified.

The new juvenile justice centre rules will apply to all children received into the
Juvenile Justice Centre and the supervision rules to those subject to a period of
supervision under a juvenile justice centre order as provided for under Article 39(1)
of The Criminal Justice (Children)(Northern Ireland) Order 1998.

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For more information:

Owner: Criminal Justice Services Divisionpdf: http://www.nio.gov.uk/proposals_for_the_juvenile_justice_centre_(ni)_rules_2007_and_the_juvenile_justice_centre_order_(supervision)_rules_(ni)_2007.pd

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