Halt on youth courts expansion
17 Jan 08
Review of plans as part of evaluation of summary criminal justice system
Plans to expand Scotland's youth courts have been halted while the whole summary justice system is evaluated, according to an article in today's Herald.
The plans for new specialist courts in Paisley, Kilmarnock and Dundee have been put on hold for at least a year while the evaluation takes place. The future of the first courts in Hamilton and Airdrie will be decided following the review.
The first youth courts were launched in 2003 in a bid to fast-track young offenders through the criminal justice system and ensure they received the appropriate support. However the intensive measures envisaged would be expensive and an Audit Scotland report in 2007 queried whethre they would offer value for money.