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<p>The principal aim of the youth justice system in England and Wales is the prevention
of offending by children and young people under the age of 18. Courts must have regard
to this aim and to the welfare of the offender when sentencing a child or young person
with the emphasis being on approaches that seem most likely to be effective with young
people.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 1: Number of Juveniles sentenced to immediate
custody for all drug offences<strong>[1]</strong> and for primary non-Class A drug
offences<strong>[2]</strong> England and Wales 2009-2013<strong>[3]</strong><strong>[4]</strong>
</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>All Drug Offences<sup>1 </sup></strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number
of Juveniles sentenced</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Primary Non-Class A Drug Offences<sup>2
</sup></strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of Juveniles sentenced</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2009</strong></p></td><td><p>223</p></td><td><p><strong>2009</strong></p></td><td><p>56</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2010</strong></p></td><td><p>222</p></td><td><p><strong>2010</strong></p></td><td><p>84</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2011</strong></p></td><td><p>185</p></td><td><p><strong>2011</strong></p></td><td><p>68</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2012</strong></p></td><td><p>129</p></td><td><p><strong>2012</strong></p></td><td><p>47</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td><td><p>137</p></td><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td><td><p>31</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>Custodial sentences are available for those young people who commit the most
serious offences and who fail to respond to community interventions.</p><p> </p><p>There
are also a number of community sentences which are available to the courts which are
not covered by the figures above. As part of the Youth Rehabilitation Order, a Drug
Treatment Requirement is available, where the young person’s drug use has been identified
as a substantive factor in their offending behaviour. The Drug Treatment Requirement
means that the young person must submit to treatment during the period specified in
the order with a view to the reduction or elimination of the young person’s dependency
on, or propensity to misuse, drugs.</p><p> </p><p>[1] Data includes Sections 12, 13,
19(a), (b) Criminal Justice Co-Operation Act 1990, RR.6(5), 7, 8, & 9(2) Controlled
Drugs (Drug Precursors)(Community External Trade) Regs 2008, Misuse of Drugs Act 1971,
Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (SS.50(2), (3) & (5), 68 (2) & (4)
& 170(1), (2), (3) & (4) & Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 SS 327-330, 333,
334 (1,2) & 336 (5) & (6)</p><p> </p><p>[2] Data excludes the following offence
descriptions and corresponding statutes: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 SEC 4(2)(3) SS.170(1)(b)
& (3) & (4) & Sch.1,P.1 SEC 19, SEC 8, Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 SEC 4(2)(3)
SS.170(1)(b) & (3) & (4) & Sch.1,P.1 SEC 19, SEC 8, Criminal Justice (International
Co-operation) Act 1990 S.19(a)(b)</p><p> </p><p>[3] The statistics relate to persons
for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with.
When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence
is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal
is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which
the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.</p><p> </p><p>[4] Every effort is
made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is
important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data
systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be
taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken
into account when those data are used.</p>
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