Welcome to Sheffield YOS

The Youth Justice System
The Youth Justice System in England and Wales comprises the youth courts, the institutions in which young people are held in custody, and the range of professionals (the police, the probation service, social workers, education and health workers) who work with young people that offend or who are at risk of offending.  The Youth Justice System is part of the broader Criminal Justice System.

Sheffield YOS
Sheffield Youth Offending Service is key to the successful delivery of the Youth Justice System in Sheffield. The YOS is a multi-agency team made up of representatives from four statutory partners:

• Children & Young People's Directorate (Sheffield City Council)

• South Yorkshire Police

• The Probation Service

• Primary Care Trust.

These representatives work alongside a range of other staff including those from the voluntary sector.

Because Sheffield YOS incorporates representatives from a wide range of providers the service can respond comprehensively to the needs of both those young people at risk of offending and those who have already offended. The YOS identifies the needs of each young person by assessing them with a standardised national assessment.

This assessment enables the YOS to identify the specific risk factors and problems that lead both to a young person being at risk of engaging in offending behaviour, as well as measuring the risk they pose to others in the community. This process enables the YOS to identify suitable programmes to address the needs of each individual young person with the intention of prevention any further offending.

Sheffield YOS is working to achieve national and local targets to ensure, in conjunction with other partners, that Sheffield is safer for everyone to live and work in.

PRIMARY AIM
Sheffield YOS has one overall aim, to prevent youth offending.

Young people who offend or who are at risk of engaging in offending behaviour will be systematically assessed and a range of interventions will be put in place to challenge their offending behaviour.  They will also be required to make reparation to the victims of their crimes.

OBJECTIVES
The key objectives of Sheffield YOS are:

• Reduce the number of first time entrants (FTEs) to the Youth Justice System in Sheffield

• Confront offenders with the consequences of their behaviour

• Reduce the risks associated with youth crime

• Encourage the participation of victims

• Promote parental responsibility

• Ensure prompt sentencing

• Help ensure that young people are dealt with proportionately

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Sheffield YOS has a set of responsibilities set out in statute. These are:

• The provisions of an appropriate adult service for unaccompanied young people in police custody

• Intervention with young people subject to a Final Warning issued by South Yorkshire Police

• Bail supervision for young people going through court

• The operation of community sentences

• The oversight of young people in custody

• Enforcement of court orders

• Providing support to parents

• Finding out the views of victims and encouraging their involvement

This site has primarily been designed to meet the needs of the general public who wish to learn more about the purpose, function and activities of Sheffield YOS and the Youth Justice System.

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