Parliamentary inquiry into youth justice system

A Parliamentary Inquiry has been set up under the chairmanship of Lord Alex Carlile QC, to investigate the operation and effectiveness of the youth justice system, including the experiences of young people.

Lord Carlile will be assisted by a cross-party panel of six other parliamentarians, including Robert Buckland MP, Lord Bach, Baroness Greengross, Baroness Lane-Fox, Sarah Teather MP and Angela Watkinson MP. The inquiry is supported by the Michael Sieff Foundation, the National Children's Bureau and the Dawes Trust.

The inquiry has been prompted by long-held and growing concerns that criminal courts do not, in their current form, offer the most effective means of dealing with young offenders.

The inquiry will start sitting in the autumn of 2013 and publish its report in spring 2014.

Organisations and individuals are invited to make written evidence submissions, focused on the terms of reference.

The deadline for submissions is Monday 18 November 2013. A number of oral evidence hearings will also be convened in late 2013 and early 2014. 

Written evidence submissions to the inquiry should address the terms of reference, which are available at www.ncb.org.uk/media/1038232/lord_carlile_information_sheet.pdf, and be no more than 3,000 words.

Submissions should be sent by email to yjinquiry@ncb.org.uk. The body of the email must make clear who the submission is from, providing a contact name, telephone number and postal address.

If you are unable to make your submission by email they will accept alternative formats. Contact Alexandra Wigzell on 07771 984 526 or email yjinquiry@ncb.org.uk to discuss this.

Written submissions should include:

  • A summary of the key points made in the submission
  • A brief overview of the organisation/individual submitting evidence
  • Any request for some or all of the evidence to be kept confidential (including the name of the submitter), and reasons for the request.

Paragraphs should be numbered and all material and data referred to should be clearly referenced. Supporting material may be submitted alongside written evidence, but the written submission should be self-contained.