In brief
- Not only did the pandemic severely exacerbate the underlying vulnerabilities that bring many children into contact with the law in the first place, it also dramatically reduced vital sources of support that divert them away from the criminal justice system.
- At the same time – and coinciding with global protests against racial injustice – the pandemic highlighted existing concerns about the shocking racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
- As we mark two turbulent years since the start of the pandemic, the opportunity to review the way local services engage with children in contact with the law from a child rights perspective should not be missed.