Evaluation of the Youth Justice Liaison and Diversion (YJLD) pilot scheme

The Youth Justice Liaison and Diversion Pilot Scheme was evaluated to determine its effectiveness in supporting vulnerable young people in the youth justice system by diverting them to health and social care services, aiming to reduce reoffending and enhance inter-agency collaboration. The University of Liverpool conducted the evaluation using a mixed-methods approach, which included both quantitative and qualitative data, from January 2009 to September 2011. Although the scheme was successful in identifying and providing support to at-risk youth and showed some positive mental health outcomes and potential cost savings, particularly for first-time offenders, it did not significantly reduce reoffending rates compared to control groups. The evaluation faced methodological challenges such as small sample sizes and data collection issues, which limited the ability to draw definitive conclusions. Despite these limitations, the scheme demonstrated some positive impacts on well-being and vulnerability, and the evaluation underscored the importance of early intervention and the potential for long-term resource efficiency. Further research was recommended to fully understand the program's impact. **This summary was written by an AI model and therefore should not be considered a definitive summary of the report. If you are aware of inaccuracies, please email evaluation.registry@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.**

Description

• Lead department: Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
• Evaluation stage: A complete evaluation report
• Other departments: No other departments listed
• Evaluation types: Impact evaluation; Process evaluation
• Impact methods: Quasi-experimental method
• Quasi-experimental methods: Matching
• Process methods: Case studies; Focus groups or group interviews; Individual interviews; Qualitative observational studies
• Grant information: This intervention is not distributing funding via a grant
• Government Major Project information: This intervention is not a major project
• Policies: No policies provided

Event Dates

• Event Name: Publication of final results
• Event date: March 2012

Evaluation Costs

• Cost: Not provided

Evaluation sharing

• Link(s) to published report(s): Yes
• Links to evaluation plans: No link provided
• Findings: Not provided
• Permission to share confirmed: Yes