Youth Engagement Statistics for Northern Ireland 2021/22 published today

The Department of Justice (DoJ) today published a Research and Statistical Bulletin on ‘Youth Engagement Statistics for Northern Ireland 2021/22’. It is an Official Statistics Publication.

This bulletin presents data on cases relating to young people (aged between 10 and 17 years) coming into formal contact with the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland for the year 1 April 2021 – 31 March 2022.  It provides some detail on those referred for the Youth Engagement process, alongside information on the time taken for that process to complete and on subsequent outcomes.  Like the rest of the justice system, the Youth Engagement process was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact of this may still be seen in the figures reported.

• There were 2,487 cases relating to young people coming into formal contact with the criminal justice system in 2021-22.  This is an increase of 220 (9.7%) from 2020-21.
• The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) assessed 40.9% (1,016) of cases suitable for resolution through the Youth Engagement process and 53.5% (1,330) as not suitable.
• The majority (75.3%, 1,873) of young people coming into formal contact with the justice system in 2021-22 were male¹.
• Almost half, (49.9%, 1,242) of cases in 2021-22 were in relation to those aged 16 or 17 at the time of their offence. The remaining 50.1 % (1,245) were aged 10 to 15 at the time of their offence.
• Of those assessed by PPS as not suitable for Youth Engagement, 41.0% (545) were deemed suitable for prosecution and 58.3% (775) were assessed as requiring no further action. 
• The most frequent outcome of those completing the youth engagement process, 41.3% (420), was a Youth Conference.
• Almost all of the cases (89.0%, 81) removed from the Youth Engagement process were returned to the PPS for a further decision on how the case was to be progressed.
• The median time for a case to be dealt with through the Youth Engagement process in 2021-22 was 66 days, a decrease of 12 days from the median time recorded in 2020-21.
•  Legal representation, while offered to individuals, was declined in the majority (83.0%, 599) of cases by the family.
• Of those who participated in a Youth Engagement clinic and responded to the survey question, 98.9% (258) of young people stated the clinic ‘helped them understand the choices available to them’.

Notes to editors: 

1.  This bulletin presents data on cases relating to young people coming into formal contact with the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland during the year 1 April 2021 – 31 March 2022.  Additionally, the bulletin provides detail on those referred for the youth engagement process, alongside information on the time taken for that process to complete and on subsequent outcomes.  Detail on the structure of the population concerned is also included. 

2.  This is the fourth year this information has been available and it is anticipated that it will continue to be published annually.  It is hoped that an updated version of this bulletin, containing figures relating to 2022/23, will be available in December 2023.

3.  The data used in this bulletin were, in the main, taken from the Causeway Data Sharing Mechanism (DSM1). They were extracted primarily based on records contained on the Criminal Records Viewer (CRV). The CRV is held on Causeway and utilises data which originated in the PSNI, PPS and from Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS). Causeway is an interconnected information system, launched as a joint undertaking by the Criminal Justice Organisations (CJOs) in Northern Ireland.

4.  Data relating to youth engagement clinic dates and outcomes, sourced from the YJA Case Management System, are matched with the information from Causeway, to complete the dataset and information in relation to legal representation at clinics, as well as in relation to victim involvement, is sourced from PSNI.

5.  The figures reported in this bulletin, in the main, relate to cases where the date of charge (for charge cases), or date accused informed (for summons cases) falls within the year specified, where the case was prosecuted by the PPS on behalf of PSNI, Harbour Police, Airport Constabulary or the National Crime Agency (NCA).  They relate to young people aged under 18 at time of offence.     

Official Statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.  They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs and are produced free from any political interference.  They are also subject to restrictions in terms of pre-release access. 

6.  The bulletin will be available in PDF format from either the Statistics section of this website or Analytical Services Group, Financial Services Division, Block B, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3SG

Email: statistics.research@justice-ni.gov.uk.

7.  Press queries about this publication should be directed to the DoJ Press Office via Email

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