Fast Track Children's Hearings Pilot: Final Report of the Evaluation of the Pilot (Abridged Version)

Abstract

The Scottish Executive decided that a Fast Track approach to the children's hearings system would be introduced in early 2003 on a pilot basis in selected parts of Scotland. The aim was to improve practice and outcomes with respect to the ways that the hearings system and associated services dealt with young people who persistently offend. Particular objectives were to: • reduce the time taken both overall and at each stage of decision-making • promote more comprehensive assessments which include appraisals of offending risk • ensure that all young people who persistently offend and who require an appropriate programme have access to one • reduce re-offending rates as a result of the concerted efforts made in such cases. The evaluation of the pilot was undertaken by staff at the Universities of Glasgow, Stirling and Strathclyde between February 2003 and January 2005. The aims were to evaluate the effectiveness of the Fast Track hearings in processing persistent young offenders through the children's hearings system more quickly than conventional hearings and to assess how and to what extent Fast Track hearings are achieving the aims of being better informed, providing better monitoring of young people and leading to better disposal outcomes. The verdict from the evaluation on the effectiveness of Fast Track was definitely positive with regard to time-scales and other aspects such as assessment and action plans, but not proven with regard to impact on offending.