Welcome to Smart Justice for Young People
Smart Justice for Young People is devoted to the legal and justice issues affecting young people aged between 12 and 25. Young people experience a unique range of justice issues due to their age and personal circumstances. These experiences have a lasting impact on their adult lives.
Our initial focus is on interactions between police and young people, identified as an area of concern by the organisations involved in Smart Justice for Young People. We hope to improve the relationship between police and young people by addressing the recurring issues we have identified through our work, particularly with at-risk and marginalised young people.
Our strategy involves policy reform, public education and effective campaigning on pressing issues. We seek to involve young people in our work wherever possible.
The members of Smart Justice for Young People are experienced practitioners in the fields of criminal justice, youth services and the law, giving us on-the-ground knowledge of the issues and concerns of young people. Evidence tells us that smart approaches to justice issues, particularly in the formative years of a person's life, are far more effective in creating safer, happier communities now and in the future.
