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| Notice Summary |
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| Title: | GB-London: What works to support the youngest children in the criminal justice system and to divert them from perceived criminal behaviour |
| Notice type: | Competitive Contract Notice |
| Authority: | Local Government Association |
| Nature of contract: | Not applicable |
| Procedure: | Not applicable |
| Short Description: | The age of criminal responsibility (ACR) refers to the minimum age that a child can be prosecuted and punished by law for an offence. England, Wales and Northern Ireland have one of the lowest ACRs in the world at age 10. Campaigners have been calling for the ACR to be raised to reflect international standards and research around child development. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was ratified by the UK government in 1991, calls upon states parties to establish a minimum age "below which children shall be presumed not to have the capacity to infringe the penal law". The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended in 2007 that states set this minimum age at 12 or higher ; in 2019, it revised this to a minimum age of at least 14. England currently has one of the lowest ACRs in the world: The Child Rights International Network. In theory, that means a child of any age could be convicted and sentenced. Of the states that do have a minimum, North Carolina's is the lowest at seven years. The proportion of Black children given a caution or sentence is almost three times higher than the proportion of Black children in the 10-17 population, and this has increased over the past 10 years. The proportion of proven more serious offences (for example, robbery and violent crime) was greater for those: • aged 15-17, (15% compared to 10% of offences committed by 10-14 year olds), • black children (23%, with other ethnic groups ranging from 11% to 22%), and • boys (15%, compared to 5% for girls). There is a wealth of evidence that suggests that a 10-year-old’s brain is not developed enough to understand that they may be undertaking an act that is criminal, or understanding the consequences. They are also unable to manage the experience in the criminal justice system. Evidence drawn from the House of Parliament, Age of Criminal Responsibility Briefing Paper (2018) highlights that brain imaging has shown that brain development, especially in the regions involved in decision-making, does not stop in childhood but continues into adulthood. Furthermore, evidence suggests that younger children have higher levels of re-offending and therefore repeated involvement in the CJS compared to children that have been involved in the CJS at a later age. The younger the child is when first having contact with juvenile justice, then the more likely it is the child will become entrenched in the justice system There is also a significant impact on the long term outcomes of children and young people. Involvement in the youth justice system reduces the likelihood that children will complete school and obtain educational qualifications. A criminal record also impacts directly on the chances of future employment. Children who have formal contact with the criminal justice system are less likely to be in work as young adults than those whose offending did not result in a formal sanction. |
| Published: | 01/10/2021 21:33 |
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1. Title: GB-London: What works to support the youngest children in the criminal justice system and to divert them from perceived criminal behaviour
2. Awarding Authority:
Local Government Association
Local Government House, 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ, United Kingdom
Tel. 020 7187 7381, Email: jordanne.mckenzie-blythe@local.gov.uk
Contact: Jordanne McKenzie-Blythe, Attn: Flora Wilkie
3. Contract Type: Services
Sub Type: Research and development services.
4. Description: Research and development services and related consultancy services. The age of criminal responsibility (ACR) refers to the minimum age that a child can be prosecuted and punished by law for an offence. England, Wales and Northern Ireland have one of the lowest ACRs in the world at age 10. Campaigners have been calling for the ACR to be raised to reflect international standards and research around child development.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was ratified by the UK government in 1991, calls upon states parties to establish a minimum age "below which children shall be presumed not to have the capacity to infringe the penal law". The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended in 2007 that states set this minimum age at 12 or higher ; in 2019, it revised this to a minimum age of at least 14.
England currently has one of the lowest ACRs in the world:
The Child Rights International Network. In theory, that means a child of any age could be convicted and sentenced. Of the states that do have a minimum, North Carolina's is the lowest at seven years.
The proportion of Black children given a caution or sentence is almost three times higher than the proportion of Black children in the 10-17 population, and this has increased over the past 10 years.
The proportion of proven more serious offences (for example, robbery and violent crime) was greater for those:
• aged 15-17, (15% compared to 10% of offences committed by 10-14 year olds),
• black children (23%, with other ethnic groups ranging from 11% to 22%), and
• boys (15%, compared to 5% for girls).
There is a wealth of evidence that suggests that a 10-year-old’s brain is not developed enough to understand that they may be undertaking an act that is criminal, or understanding the consequences. They are also unable to manage the experience in the criminal justice system.
Evidence drawn from the House of Parliament, Age of Criminal Responsibility Briefing Paper (2018) highlights that brain imaging has shown that brain development, especially in the regions involved in decision-making, does not stop in childhood but continues into adulthood.
Furthermore, evidence suggests that younger children have higher levels of re-offending and therefore repeated involvement in the CJS compared to children that have been involved in the CJS at a later age. The younger the child is when first having contact with juvenile justice, then the more likely it is the child will become entrenched in the justice system
There is also a significant impact on the long term outcomes of children and young people. Involvement in the youth justice system reduces the likelihood that children will complete school and obtain educational qualifications. A criminal record also impacts directly on the chances of future employment. Children who have formal contact with the criminal justice system are less likely to be in work as young adults than those whose offending did not result in a formal sanction.
5. CPV Codes:
73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services.
6. NUTS Codes :
UKI - LONDON
7. Main Site or Location of Works, Main Place of Delivery or Main Place of Performance: LONDON,
8. Reference Attributed by the Awarding Authority:
9. Estimated Value of Requirement: Category K:10K to 25K
Currency: GBP
10. Deadline for Expression of Interest: 20/10/2021 00:00:00
11. Address to which they must be sent:
Not Provided
12. Other Information:
Other Information: For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-GB-London:-What-works-to-support-the-youngest-children-in-the-criminal-justice-system-and-to-divert-them-from-perceived-criminal-behaviour/32BKZP3HEJ
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/32BKZP3HEJ
TKR-2021101-PRO-19007198
Suitable for VCO: Yes
Procedure Type:OPEN
Period of Work Start date: 01/11/2021
Period of Work End date: 18/02/2022
Is this a Framework Agreement?: no