Legislative imbalance in relation to parental responsibility of young offenders

The recent judicial review brought against the Home Secretary in relation to her refusal to revise Code C of PACE 1984 brings into question the legislative inconsistencies surrounding young people and their parents coming into contact within the youth justice system. The case below identifies the controversy of parental responsibility towards young offenders. This is highlighted through the inconsistencies of current legislation against parents. There is a need to support parents in preventing their children becoming embroiled into the youth justice system. Evidence of this need can be found in scientific and social research, which determines the increased risk taking behaviour a young person may experience throughout the normal adolescent developmental stage. This supports the requirement for a different approach towards determining parental responsibility as is currently provided by the state.