Children who do not follow the conditions of a community or custody order may be returned to court and re-sentenced. In response to this breach of conditions, they may receive a more restrictive order or a return to custody, regardless of whether they have committed further offences. This can affect their education, relationships and wellbeing. Yet we know little about which children are most likely to breach the conditions of their orders or the consequences.
Project Overview
This two-year study analyses anonymised, routinely collected magistrates’ and crown court data to understand the demographics and circumstances of children who breach their orders.
The study brings together experts in youth justice, social care, data linkage, and children’s rights from Swansea and Cardiff Universities, and the Children’s Legal Centre, hosted by the Observatory for the Human Rights of Children.
In Autumn 2026, we are holding workshops in Cardiff and London to discuss our findings with young people, policymakers and professionals and co-produce recommendations. Our final report will be available in early 2027.
Academics and Researchers
| Dr Nina Maxwell | CASCADE |
| Professor Lucy Griffiths | Swansea University |
| Rowena Bailey | Swansea University |
| Dr Anthony Charles | Swansea University |
| Claire Newman | Swansea University |
| Dr Rhian Clark | Children’s Legal Centre |