Garda Youth Diversion Projects

 

Garda Youth Diversion Projects are community based and supported youth development projects which seek to divert young people from becoming involved (or further involved) in anti-social or criminal behaviour. These projects facilitate personal development and social development. They present opportunities for young people to undertake actions corresponding to their own aspirations and to assume responsibilities within their local communities.

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The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) operates as an executive office located in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA). The IYJS has responsibility for leading and driving reform in the area of youth justice, its objective is to improve delivery of youth justice services and reduce youth offending.  The Youth Crime Policy and Programmes Division of the Department of Justice and, Equality, which deals with youth crime policy, oversight and funding of the 105 Garda youth diversion projects nationwide, 4 of which are operated within Youth Work Ireland Midlands.

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GYDPs aim to bring about the conditions whereby the behavioural patterns of young people towards law and order can develop and mature through positive interventions and interaction with the project. They are primarily targeted at 12-17 year old “at risk” youths in communities where a specific need has been identified and where there is a risk of them remaining within the justice system. The objectives of the GYDP are to:

 

• Promote focussed and effective interventions to challenge and divert young people from offending behaviour;

• Utilise GYDP resources in areas of greatest need and to establish effective crime prevention supports in co-operation with other youth service providers nationwide;

• Actively promote crime prevention policy through focussed educational interventions influencing positive development of young people towards becoming responsible citizens.

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The IYJS is part supported by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020

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