The centre, funded by the Scottish Executive, was set up with three aims:

1. To establish and maintain a networked system of information and research.
2. To disseminate information on effective intervention.
3. To promote and evaluate models of effective intervention.

The MSc in Advanced Social Work was incorprated within the responsibility of the cetnre in 2004. Around the same time, Scottish government made a substantial additional investment in youth justice development in Scotland through the work of the centre.

The university chose to withdraw from delivery of the centre in March 2013; the youth justice responsibilities were subsequently relocated at the University of Strathclyde.

Although some of the centre's work will have been superceded over time, we plan to re-visit some of the work of the centre in the Research section of this website.