The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 establishes a radically different approach to the sentencing of first-time young offenders and introduces important measures for the protection of vulnerable witnesses and complainants in sexual cases. Changes to the regulations include:simplification of the competence and compellability of witnesses and the removal of outdated restrictions on the admissability of computer records. In relation to the inferences taken from silence and the use in evidence of answers obtained under compulsion, English Law is now being brought intocompliance with the European Convention on Human Rights.;"Blackstone's Guide to the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1998" is useful reading for police officers, social workers, probation officers and all those involved in youth justice as well as lawyers, magistrates, clerks and judges whoserve in the criminal courts. The book also contains a copy of the Act.