Are you looking for support or trying to understand the justice system?
Whether you’re a child, young person, or adult, this space is for you.
Discover helpful information, learn about your rights, hear from others who’ve been through similar experiences, and find trusted places that can offer support.
This website was developed by the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ), in collaboration with young people who have lived experience in the justice system.
These resources guide you through every step of the justice process, from the moment of being charged by the police to what comes next after court or conviction. You’ll also find support to help you assist your child with the challenges they may face.
The justice system can be filled with complex words and phrases that are difficult to understand. This confusion can sometimes lead to unfair treatment in court.
There are many people and services out there that can offer you support. These are some of the places we think might be helpful.
Amplifying Young Voices in Justice
Children and young people’s voices are vital in shaping decisions and reforms within the justice system.
More organisations are actively involving people with justice and care experience in their work, creating opportunities for them to share their views and drive meaningful change.
In Scotland, children and young people are already playing a key role in transforming the system.
Explore this section to learn more about their impact.
There are more opportunities than ever before to have your say on how we do justice. Here are some of the groups we know about. If you’d like us to add a group or project, please get in touch.
Tell us what you think about the justice and care systems, what your experiences are, or the things you think need to change.
Maybe you’d like to tell your story in a blog/reel, or in artwork.
This website is a work in progress. Help us make it better by sharing your ideas about what you’d like to see.
The Commissioner protects the rights of children and young people up to age 18, or 21 if care experienced.
Everyone has rights, whether they’re a child or an adult. No matter what they have done. We believe that every child should have opportunities to learn about their rights and to know how to make sure these are met.
If you are a child in conflict with the law, you have the right to understand what is happening to you when you enter the justice system.
You should receive clear information about your rights throughout this process. If needed, you should have a trusted adult who can help you understand these rights.
It’s also essential for adults to learn about children’s rights. This includes parents and carers, community members, and professionals who work or volunteer in the Children’s Hearings System and the justice system, such as Police Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service.
There are many international agreements and laws that help us understand the rights of children, including when children are in conflict with the law.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, called the UNCRC for short, is the international agreement that sets out all the rights children have from birth to the age of 18. Scotland is in the process of making the UNCRC part of its laws. This process is called incorporation.
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland has this useful guide to children’s rights.
The 44 Standards outline what children and young people can expect before, during, and after secure care. They highlight how the secure care journey should look and feel from the child’s perspective. Developed in collaboration with children and young people who have lived experience of secure care, these Standards ensure their voices are heard. Learn more.
Explore resources from CYCJ and partners to clearly understand your rights in the justice system and custody.
Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice
University of Strathclyde
Lord Hope Building, Level 6
141 St. James Road Glasgow G4 0LT
(0141) 444 8622
© Just The Right Space 2022
