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.

Your Journey Through Justice

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.

Who Can Support Me?

There are many people and services out there that can offer you support. These are some of the places we think might be helpful.

Be a Change Maker

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.

Play Video

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.

Hope for transformation in secure care
Falling through the gaps
Multiple failures by the systems meant to support her led to Hannah experiencing turmoil and trauma from an early age. Despite these challenges, she's working on healing herself so that she can be in the best place to give others the helping hand she should have had.
Beneath the Surface
I was 13 the first time the police pinned me down on the ground, handcuffed me and put me in the back of a police van.

Your rights, your life

The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland is Nicola Killean. Learn more about her role here.

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.

Justice news

VOICE magazine is now out
Our Hearings Our Voice (OHOV) has published its brand new magazine ‘VOICE’ which aims to provide information, relaxation and entertainment to young people waiting to attend their hearing.
Have your say on Bairns’ Hoose
Aged 16-25 with experience of the justice system? We're holding a session for you to have your say on Scotland's Bairns' Hoose consultation.
Co-production with children and young people
Inclusion as Prevention (IAP) has produced a new report about co-production, that is intended as a resource for those working with children and young people who are considering using co-production.