CRYJ works collaboratively to co-deliver projects led by young people with lived experience of the justice system and lawyers committed to improving the justice system for children.
What we do
Ensuring every child is represented by a child specialist criminal lawyer
Specialist lawyers: systems change
The UNCRC recommends a system of specialised youth lawyers for children in contact with the justice system. CRYJ works to achieve specialist criminal legal representation for children.
- CRYJ is undertaking research in partnership with the Newcastle University and the Youth Justice Legal Centre (YJLC) to provide an evidence base to underpin the need for children to have specialist criminal lawyers in England and Wales.
- CRYJ has supported the SRA and BSB to provide specialist regulation for lawyers who represent and prosecute children in criminal cases.
- CRYJ’s Chief Executive, Kate Aubrey-Johnson, was an independent expert adviser on youth justice to the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR). The Review recommended accreditation for youth justice lawyers and improved fees in the Youth Court. The government has committed to spending £5million per year (from 2024) to uplift fees in the Youth Court.
Improving understanding of children’s rights in the justice system
Specialist knowledge: culture change
CRYJ delivers training and develops tools and resources to ensure criminal lawyers, youth justice professionals and the judiciary understand children’s rights.
- CRYJ is helping to build a community of child specialist criminal lawyers.
- Kate Aubrey-Johnson and Professor Kathryn Hollingsworth contribute to the Crown Court Compendium Part II: Sentencing and deliver training to judges on behalf of the Judicial College.
- Kate Aubrey-Johnson and Dr Laura Janes have worked with the Policy Forum at Drive Forward Foundation to co-produce a lawyers’ guide – ‘Dare to Care: Representing Care Experienced Young People.’
- Kate Aubrey-Johnson is a lead facilitator on the ICCA’s Advocacy for Children in Conflict with the Law training course being launched in November 2023 and was on the advisory board that helped devise the course & course materials.
Building a fairer youth justice system
Specialist system: structural change
CRYJ works to improve the youth justice system to ensure children are treated fairly and their rights are properly understood.
- CRYJ contributes to research to help better understand what works in the youth justice system.
- Kate Aubrey-Johnson co-chairs the Ministry of Justice/Youth Justice Board’s Quality of Advocacy Working Group which works to support lawyers meet the needs of children who come into contact with the youth justice system. This work includes
– supporting the MoJ Legal Aid Policy Unit to devise the revised Youth Court fee scheme and are developing guidance on Certificates for Assigned Advocate.
– supporting work by the MoJ Youth Justice Policy Unit to reduce the disproportionate use of custodial remand for children.
Child Rights & Youth Justice C.I.C. 