'Child First' Justice

‘Child First’ Justice is the guiding principle for the Youth Justice System of England and Wales. Child First views individuals who offend as ‘children’ rather than ‘offenders’, promotes the development of pro-social identity, encourages collaboration with children and seeks to divert children away from the stigma of system contact.

Prioritising the child’s best interests, it is a constructive and future-focused approach, promoting the development of a pro-social identity for sustainable desistance, working collaboratively with children and their carers to encourage participation, engagement and social inclusion. Child First Justice focuses on prevention, diversion and minimal intervention to reduce the stigmatising effects of system contact.