Youth Justice System Debate

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Baroness Butler-Sloss

Main Page: Baroness Butler-Sloss (Crossbench - Life peer)

Youth Justice System

Baroness Butler-Sloss Excerpts
Tuesday 23rd March 2021

(3 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Scott of Bybrook Portrait Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
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The youth justice working group, chaired by the judicial lead on youth justice, has been set up exactly to reduce the impact of Covid-19 delays on the youth court and trials involving youths in the Crown Court. This group continues to meet regularly to carefully monitor the youth recovery programme, and its highlight for this year is to continue to make sure that the lists are as low as possible for a child, particularly if they are just about to turn 18.

Baroness Butler-Sloss Portrait Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB) [V]
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My Lords, are the Government considering raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12? These 10 and 11 year-olds usually come from seriously dysfunctional backgrounds and need help in the care system rather than convictions or findings of guilt.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook Portrait Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
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I have no information that the age will rise from 10 to 12 but that may be debated in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which is in the other place and will be coming to this House shortly.