Juvenile Justice
Members of this group draw on their experience working in government agencies, community groups and academia.
See below for recent news in relation to the group's activities and developments in juvenile justice.
The Bail Supervision Scheme Seminar, 10th September, 2019
The ACJRD seminar ‘Bail Supervision Scheme' was held on Tuesday, 10th September, 2019, at the offices of the Irish Youth Justice Service at Miesian Plaza, 50-58 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2.
This seminar was presented by:
- Tony O'Donovan, IYJS
- Fiona Murphy, Extern
- Stephen Coughlan, Extern
- Dr Catherine Naughton, University of Limerick
The Bail Supervision Scheme (BSS) offers courts an alternative option to detaining a young person who comes before them by offering them the possibility of granting bail with intensive supervision.
By reducing the need for remand places, this also provides an opportunity to focus on developing successful community resources designed to prevent young people being detained in a youth justice facility and preventing them from entering further down the path of criminality.
Picture: Maura Butler, ACJRD Chairperson with the seminar speakers Fiona Murphy, Tony O'Donovan, Dr Catherine Naughton and Stephen Coughlan.
Child Defendants and Child Witnesses in Court - Contemporary Challenges for Juvenile Justice, 29th November 2018
The ACJRD and the ACJRD Juvenile Justice Working Group held the seminar 'Child Defendants and Child Witnesses in Court - Contemporary Challenges for Juvenile Justice' at the Education Centre, Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 on Thursday, 29th November, 2018.
This event was Chaired by Professor Ursula Kilkelly and featured the following speakers:
Judge John O'Connor spoke on 'Challenges in Adjudicating Capacity for Children to Participate in Court Proceedings - Theory and Practice'
Vivienne Foley spoke on 'Recognising Speech and Language Difficulties and Appropriate Supports'
Professor Michael Fitzgerald spoke on 'Challenges for Children on the Autism Spectrum'
Pictured: (L-R) Prof. Ursula Kilkelly, Judge John O'Connor, Vivienne Foley and Prof. Michael Fitzgerald
Young People, Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System: Time for a New Vision? - 30th November, 2017
The ACJRD and its Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Working Groups hosted the seminar 'Young People, Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System: Time for a New Vision?' on Thursday, 30th November, 2017.
The seminar featured presentations from:
Dr Etain Quigley, Lecturer, School of Law, NUI Maynooth: Young People, the Criminal Justice System and Mental Health - What's our Plan?
Dr Blánaid Gavin, Associate Professor, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, UCD: Young people, mental health and ADHD - diagnosis,treatment and management: Learnings for the Youth Justice System
Pictured: Dr. Blanaid Gavin, Dr. Etain Quigley and Maura Butler, ACJRD Chairperson
Life After Care
The Juvenile Justice and Reintegration Working Groups of ACJRD held a seminar on “Life After Care” on Monday, 14th March, 2016. This seminar was presented by Don Bosco Care.
Don Bosco Care speakers at this event were Brian Hogan CEO, Rachel Valentine and Ciaran Kenny.
Pictured L-R: Maura Butler, Chairperson ACJRD, Ciaran Kenny, Don Bosco Care, Rachel Valentine, Don Bosco Care, and Brian Hogan, CEO, Don Bosco Care.
The seminar was extremely interesting and very well received by all those present. It looked at the supports in place for young people leaving state care at 18 years of age, where it started and how it has transitioned and encompassed the following issues:
- Lack of familial support and relationships
- Lack of community support and relationships
- Homelessness
- Criminal behaviour
- Mental health
- The rental market
- Physical well being
- Literacy
- Pregnancy
- Parenting
- Life skills
- Emotional well-being & support
- Mild disabilities
To learn more about Don Bosco Care Services, please click here.
Intellectual Disability and the Criminal Justice System - 28th July 2015
The Seminar 'Intellectual Disability and the Criminal Justice System - Recent Research and Casework Experience' took place in the Education Centre at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7, on Tuesday 28th July.
This event was a collaboration between the ACJRD and its Juvenile Justice and Education Working Groups, and the Irish Criminal Justice and Disability Network.
Seminar speakers included (please click on speaker names to download a copy of their presentations)
Professor Shane Kilcommins, Head of the School of Law, University of Limerick
Dr Helen Goode, Senior Clinical Psychologist, The Dublin Adult and Child Therapy Centre - this presentation is no longer available as the content is outdated.
Karen O'Driscoll, Speech & Language Therapist, The Dublin Adult and Child Therapy Centre
The Irish Criminal Justice and Disability Network is a newly established organisation that aims to provide a national platform where disability organisations and criminal justice agencies can be facilitated to improve the experience of those with a learning/intellectual disability who engage with the criminal justice system.
Juvenile Justice Seminar December 10th 2013
Her Hon. Ms. Mary Ellen Ring chaired an ACJRD seminar on Juvenile Justice which took place on Tuesday December 10th at 5.30pm in the Atrium (Department of Justice) , 51 St Stephens Green.
This seminar also marked the launch of the ACJRD Juvenile Justice Working Group.
Speakers at the Seminar included:
Ursula Fernee, Regional Manager, Young Persons Probation who gave a presentation on the recent Probation Service Study : Drug and alcohol misuse among young offenders on Probation Supervision in Ireland. A copy of this study can be found on the Probation Service website
BL And School Principal who gave a presentation on:School attendance and the law and implications / outcomes for young people and their parents
Aoife McNickle BL who gave a presentation on: Juvenile Justice in Practice