The Crime and Disorder Act 1998: Implications for Youth Justice in England and Wales1

The implementation of the Crime antl Disortler Atl t998 (CDA I99S) has been described as representing the most far reaching changes to the Youth Justice Svstem in England and Wales in the tast 50 iears (pitts 200:-). In this paper Joe Yates presents a critical analysis of the changes to the youth justice system brought a.bout as a result o.f the implematttrtion of the Crime and Disor' der Act 1-998. The pop", ,oit"*tualises the changes in relation to the principles and philosophies of the youth iustice system prior to the CDA 1998 and explores these changes not only in 'relation to penal poticy, bit atso in a broatler political context. The paper also offers a critical analysis oj the government's critique of the youth iustice system prior to the CDA 1998 (rnd a criticat aiaty,sis of governmental responses to what they perceived were the failings of the youth justice system. l, citical analysis of the main body of the changes embodied in the CDA 1998 is "presentid. This is foltowed by afoius on the replocement of the caution with the Final Warning ancl the implementation of tie Detention and Training Order' which presents a critical exploration of thi net widening capacitlt of earty intervention and the rise in custodial sentences .for children. The paper coicluttes by exploring the background to the chung,es to the youth iustice system, which occurred at a timi when recorded youth crime hadfallen. The paper criticallv engages with thi,s i.ssue by presenting an analysis tf the tinks betv'een moral panic's around youth and crime and increa.sing,ly interventionist antl coercive youth justice policies.