Reducing first-time entrants to the Youth Justice system: The case for an agency-wide extension of ‘Child First’ principles

While the Youth Justice sector has become more aware of, and responsive to, Child First principles, other settings that work with children are falling behind. This article reports on an exploratory study to investigate the number of First-Time Entrants to the Youth Justice system across two neighbouring areas: one comparatively high (Area A) and the other comparatively low (Area B). Our findings in relation to schools, the police and the Violence Reduction Unit suggest that all parties involved in youth justice practice, need to be aware of, understand and implement Child First practice. The implications of our findings suggest the integration of Child First policy into police training and supporting all agencies that provide services to children in undertaking a self-assessment of Child First principles. We argue that taking this approach would help to reduce first-time entrants both locally and nationally.