Report on a time-critical aspect of the system: the proposed abolition of the Youth Justice Board (YJB). Its inclusion in the Public Bodies Bill is currently the subject of ‘ping pong’ between the two Houses.
It focuses on the YJB and the proposals for its work to be taken over by a division of the Ministry of Justice. It aims to not argue for or against the abolition of the YJB, but to highlight those parts of its work which need to be continued, whether they are undertaken by the Board or the MoJ; note some concerns which need to be addressed if the work is to be undertaken by a division of the MoJ; and make recommendations about governance and transparency arrangements.