Panel extension is not enough
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The decision to extend the length of time volunteers can serve on youth offending panels by one year is not enough, a panel member body has said.
At present volunteers working with young people referred to the panels by youth offending teams (YOTs) can only serve a maximum of six years, meaning the first round of members who started in 2002 are now coming to the end of their term.
But the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and the government's Joint Youth Justice Unit have agreed to extend the maximum term by one year. Ellie Roy, chief executive of the YJB, and Diana Luchford, head of the Joint Youth Justice Unit, have sent a joint letter to YOT managers outlining the changes and saying extensions should be for an additional period of one year on an interim basis.
Sandra Beeton, chair of the Association of Panel Members, said she was disappointed the extension was not for a longer period. "When people fall off the edge then all that experience is gone," she said.
