The two youth courts set up as pilot schemes in Lanarkshire were regarded as so successful by the previous Scottish Executive that they were to be extended to three new areas: Kilmarnock, Paisley and Dundee. That will not now happen, apparently because the cost is too great for the SNP-led government, despite cross-party agreement that urgent action is required to tackle the growing number of persistent young offenders.

Specialist youth courts are more expensive than adult courts because they provide additional resources such as training programmes and support to deal with alcohol or drug problems, in addition to a punishment of community service or a fine. An evaluation of the two pilot schemes in Hamilton and Airdrie found that one of the main advantages was that they fast-tracked young people into court so that very little time elapsed between the offence being committed and the court hearing. The sheriffs involved believe that results in a more meaningful connection between the offence and the sentence. Compared with similar cases in the sheriff court, there were far more guilty pleas, which also results in faster sentencing (as well as saving costs).

Most of those prosecuted in the youth courts are 16- and 17-year-old males, charged with the types of offences - breaches of the peace, assault, carrying offensive weapons and possession of drugs - that can either escalate into a more serious crime or end with a more positive way of life. Over one-third had already been referred to the Children's Panel Reporter on offence grounds and a smaller number had previously been convicted in an adult court. There is no doubt that they are a group for whom intervention can be successful.

The more difficult question is how to achieve the best outcome both for the individuals and in terms of economics. In dealing with offenders, and particularly young offenders, any assessment must take into account the likelihood of future offending and the costs of that. The timescale of the evaluations of the pilots could not provide reoffending rates, although most of the police and social workers involved believe that reoffending is likely to be reduced. Extending the pilot in Airdrie and Hamilton is welcome if that will provide further evidence of their effectiveness, but differences between the two pilots suggest that a full picture might require a further test in another area.

The decision to halt further pilots of youth courts will also cause dismay to those arguing for an expansion of drug and domestic abuse courts. Scotland's only specialist domestic abuse court has been particularly successful. Set up as a pilot project on the south side of Glasgow, it achieved more than 1000 convictions in the first two years. As with the youth court, the short timespan between the offence occurring and the accused appearing in court has been an important advantage, in this case resulting in far fewer women dropping cases under the strain of waiting for months for a hearing. The domestic violence court has been funded for a further year, with the full evaluation due in the spring, but there is no guarantee of its long-term future - or of being replicated elsewhere.

Drugs courts have had success with a group particularly likely to reoffend, with one in three remaining out of trouble two years after a supervised treatment programme. Where specialist courts prove both more efficient and more effective than the overburdened sheriff and district courts, they must be extended to the whole country, otherwise dispensing justice could become a postcode lottery.