​​The need for this report was driven by the intention of the States of Jersey to become party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and to produce a Children and Young People's Plan for the Island.

In addition, the Children's Policy Group were asked to adopt a statement recognising that the best interests of the child shall be their paramount consideration.

At the time of writing, there were concerns expressed by the courts that they were powerless to deal with some of the children who appeared before them.

The report found that:

• an important principle underlying many of the recommendations made in the report is that children who persistently offend are also children at risk and in need, and their welfare needs should be met by the appropriate welfare agencies rather than leaving the criminal justice system to fill the gap
• in comparison to other places in the world, Jersey is a safe place to live with low levels of serious youth crime, but this does not mean that nothing should be done
• despite the low level of persistent offending, there are concerns about the behaviour of some young people in Jersey, and these should not be ignore
• a Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP) for Jersey should be made, and this was completed in 2011