Exploring the Production and Utilisation of Pre-sentence Reports (PSRs) in the Youth Justice System

Worsley, Rachel, Beckett, Anna, Baker, Charlotte, Wong, Kevin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3847-2316, Larner, Samuel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8386-3789, Bailey, Gavin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7361-9539, Osmon, Sonny, Roberts, Anton ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2770-5786 and Meadows, Linda (2024) Exploring the Production and Utilisation of Pre-sentence Reports (PSRs) in the Youth Justice System. Project Report. IPSOS UK for UK Government.

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Abstract

Ipsos and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) were commissioned by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) to conduct research into Pre-Sentence Reports (PSRs). PSRs bring together important information about the child to help inform the court’s sentencing decision. The research was exploratory and the primary research objectives were to: Understand commonalities and differences in PSR reports associated with custodial or community outcomes for Black children compared with White children; and Develop learning around the processes and decision-making involved in producing and utilising PSRs in these cases, including the perceived purpose of PSRs. This work builds on previous research which showed that Black children were more likely to receive harsher sentencing outcome after controlling for other factors