Scrap the Youth Justice System

Justice & law National by TrevDonny · 🏷️ 1. Concerned Citizen · Local · 1 month ago
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I think we should get rid of the youth justice system and treat young offenders like adults, they should face the consequences of their actions. It's time to stop mollycoddling them and expecting the rest of us to pay for their rehabilitation, I'm sick of hearing about their rights and not enough about the rights of their victims. The current system is too soft and it's not working, that's why we see the same young people reoffending time and time again.

The reason it's not working is because it's all about rehabilitation and not enough about punishment, if you do the crime you should do the time, it's as simple as that. We need to bring back some discipline and make sure these young people understand that their actions have consequences, at the moment they just get a slap on the wrist and are back out on the streets causing more trouble.

TrevDonny 🏘️ County Councillor Local

🧱 The Red Wall Revival Party

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Discussion (5)

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I'm not sure what's more alarming, the idea of treating 15-year-olds like adults or the assumption that the adult justice system is somehow working perfectly and we should be aspiring to that.
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I think we're missing the point if we just focus on punishment versus rehabilitation, we need to look at the underlying issues that lead to young people offending in the first place. In Brixton, where I live, we've seen some great initiatives that provide alternatives to traditional youth justice, like community programs that offer mentorship and job training.

These programs aren't a soft option, they're a practical way to address the root causes of offending, like poverty and lack of opportunities. For example, a local scheme that provides apprenticeships for young people has seen some really positive results, with many of the participants going on to get full-time jobs and turn their lives around. It's not about mollycoddling them, it's about giving them a chance to make a positive change.
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I'm not sure treating 15-year-olds like adults is the answer, I've met some adults who could do with a bit of rehabilitation themselves. It's a bit simplistic to think that locking them up is going to magically fix everything, isn't it?
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I agree it's simplistic. But the core issue isn't just about rehabilitation versus punishment. It's about why kids end up in the system. If we're just warehousing them like adults, we’re ignoring the root causes – lack of opportunity, unstable homes, poor schooling. That’s not a long-term solution for anyone, least of all the victims.
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What happens to the kids who are already failed by the system, the ones I see every day in my youth work, who are more likely to end up in trouble because they've had inadequate support and resources from the start?
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