Welcome to the Irish Youth Justice Service

The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) is an executive office of the Department of Justice and Equality with responsibility for leading and driving reform in the area of youth justice.

Working with the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, the IYJS is guided by the principles of the Children Act 2001. The IYJS funds organisations and projects providing services, including Garda and Probation Projects, to young people aged under 18 years who find themselves in conflict with the law. These children may be involved with An Garda Síochána (the Irish police force), the Probation Service and the Courts Service. We are also responsible for the management and development of children detention facilities.

Our remit is to improve the delivery of youth justice services and reduce youth offending. This challenge is met by focusing on diversion and rehabilitation involving greater use of community based interventions and the promotion of initiatives to deal with young people who offend. Providing a safe and secure environment for detained children and supporting their early re-integration back into the community is also a key function.

Additonal links

For details on the various Topics available in this section, please select from the links below

Overview
National Youth Justice Strategy
Conference 2010
Community Programmes
Detention School Services
Press & Publications
News & Events
Legislation