The Youth Justice System
Who is ISSP for?
The Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme is targeted at two main groups of young offenders:
- the small group of prolific young offenders (aged 10 to 17) who, Home Office research suggests, commit approximately a quarter of all offences committed by young people
- those young people who are not prolific offenders, but who commit crimes of a very serious nature and who would benefit from early and intensive intervention.
ISSP is based on the best evidence as to what will reduce the frequency and seriousness of offending. It promises to bring structure to offenders’ lifestyles, while systematically addressing the key risk factors contributing to their offending behaviour, such as educational deficits, weaknesses in thinking skills or drug misuse. For serious offenders who do not meet the definition of persistence, it plans to address their behaviour before they become habitual and persistent offenders.
Who is eligible?
Young offenders are eligible for ISSP if they are appearing in court charged with or convicted of an offence, and have previously been charged, warned or convicted of offences committed on four or more separate dates within the last 12 months, and received at least one community or custodial penalty.
In addition, young offenders can also qualify for ISSP if they are at risk of custody because:
- the current charge or sentence relates to an offence which is sufficiently serious that an adult could be sentenced to 10 years or more, or
- they have a history of repeat offending on bail and are at risk of a secure remand under section 130 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.
In August 2005 the eligibility criteria was amended to include two key changes.
- New short cut
Any young person, who has previously received a DTO and – within a year of leaving custody – faces custody again, is now eligible for ISSP.
- Serious crime shortcut additions
Any young person initially charged with Section 18 (Grievous Bodily Harm), who subsequently has the charged reduced to a Section 20, can now be considered for ISSP, as can any young person charged with aggravated taking and driving away.
However, not all the young offenders meeting these criteria will be suitable for such an intensive programme. Generally, youth offending teams (YOTs) will only advise courts to consider the option in the context of a pre-sentence report (PSR) where:
- the young offender fits the criteria for ISSP
- they are not considered to pose an unacceptable risk to the community if placed on ISSP
- the current offence before the court is of sufficient gravity for the court to be considering a custodial sentence or remand
- there is a place available.
YOTs will assess suitability, check there is the capacity to offer ISSP, and make a recommendation to the court. It is then for the courts to sentence (or make remand decisions) as they see fit.