The County Durham Youth Offending Service (CDYOS) purpose is:
- to prevent re-offending by children and young people
- to reduce first-time entrants to the youth justice system
- to deliver specialist interventions
- to be underpinned by safeguarding and public protection.
CDYOS is part of the county council's Children and Young People's Service (CYPS). This has enabled closer working between CDYOS, Education in the Community (Youth Service), Connexions and Sure Start County Durham, which contributes to improved outcomes for young people.
CDYOS has three sites:
- County Hall (headquarters)
- Belmont (covering Durham, Chester-le-Street and Peterlee)
- Aycliffe (covering Aycliffe and Bishop Auckland)
CDYOS Management Board is chaired by Durham County Council’s Corporate Director of Children & Young People’s Services, and members include chief officers or appropriate senior officers. The Management Board consists of: Durham County Council CYPS Extended Services, Local Safeguarding Children's Board, National Probation Service, Durham Constabulary, HM Courts, Learning and Skills Council, Connexions, County Durham and Darlington PCT, and Head of Service CDYOS.
Priorities 2009-10
CDYOS service developments for 2009/10 will be influenced by the Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP) with its focus on a “triple track” approach of: tough enforcement, non-negotiable support, and challenge and prevention to tackle problems before they escalate.
The YCAP will have significant impact on partnership working, delivery of youth justice services and prevention.
The youth crime prevention strategy focuses on reducing the number of first time entrants (FTEs) to the youth justice system by the Pre Reprimand Disposal (PRD) for 10-17 year olds. The PRD is given to youngsters age 10 to 13 who commit a first offence, rather than giving them an official police reprimand. The PRD improves outcomes for young people, reduces re-offending and makes a significant contribution to reducing first-time entrants to the criminal justice system.
This 'scaled' approach is designed to assist youth justice services to direct time and resources to young people appropriately, in accordance with their risk assessment. The Youth Offending Service will be expected to implement the scaled approach from November 2009, which will coincide with the introduction of the provisions arising from the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act. The most significant youth justice provision in the Act relates to the Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO).