Evaluation of Enhanced Triage (ET) – can a welfare approach to young offenders make a difference?

This paper details the findings of a research evaluation of 'Enhanced Triage' (ET), an integrated decision making model piloted in England by the Suffolk Youth Offending Service (SYOS) in partnership with Suffolk Police between 1st February and 30th September 2015. The use of the 'Enhanced Triage' – a welfare approach to young offenders was introduced and adopted the use of joint decision making between the police and the youth offending service, and made a wide range of support services available to young offenders to make more effective use of restorative justice. The research provides evidence in relation to how effective decision-making practices and outcomes are for children, young people and their families. Based on face-to-face qualitative interviews and focus groups with n= 70 participants and an anonymous survey n= 73, the findings suggest that through Enhanced Triage and the integrated decision making process, disposal decisions concerning young offenders are more consistent and through the assessment process, more likely to deliver improved outcomes for young offenders as well as victims of crime and the wider community.