An analysis of trends in first time entrants to the youth justice system
| Published date | 01 March 2018 |
| Author | Sharon Brereton |
| DOI | 10.1177/0264550517752751 |
| Date | 01 March 2018 |
| Subject Matter | Research & reports |
Research & reports
The Journal of Community and Criminal Justice
Probation Journal
Research & reports
2018, Vol. 65(1) 97–100
ª The Author(s) 2018
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DOI: 10.1177/0264550517752751
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An analysis of trends in first time entrants to the youth
justice system
There has been a significant drop in the number of young people entering the youth
justice system (YJS) for the first time over a 10 year period. According to statistics
there was a rapid increase in first time entrants (FTE) between 2003/4, peaking in
2006/7 at 110,784. However, the number continued to fall year on year and by
2014/15 there were 20,544. To gain an understanding of these trends, this study
aimed to explore whether there were possible societal, policy or practice drivers
attached to the changes. Additionally, the study responded to questions as to
whether the ‘case mix’ changed over time and what were the proven re-offending
outcomes of FTEs over the study period.
FTEs were identified as young people living in England and Wales aged between
10 to 17 years who received their first reprimand, final warning, caution or convic-
tion for a recordable offence. The approach taken to address the research questions
was through secondary analysis of administrative data held on the Police National
Computer (PNC), as wel as reviewing published literature and policy documents.
This analysis was undertaken to identify possible factors at the societal, policy and
practice levels that may have been influential during the period of interest.
Some caution is referred to when interpreting findings as the analysis is based on
information on all FTEs as recorded in the PNC. Furthermore, there was limited
relevant evaluation studies and information that related to factors that may have had
connections with changes in the number of FTEs. This was felt to subsequently limit
the capacity of linking the changes to particular policies, practices or...
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