Young people aged between 10 years and 17 years of age who have committed an offence (or offences) and found guilty may be made subject to an Order from the Court.
1. Final Warnings
Many offences committed by young people are not serious. For many young people simply being given a formal reprimand by the Police is sufficient to help them change their behaviour.
If having received a reprimand the young person goes on to commit another offence the Police may decide to issue a Final Warning. If another offence occurs then the young person will be taken to court. Young people on Final Warnings are referred to the Youth Offending Team for support and help.
2. Referral Orders
A Referral Order is available as a sentence in the youth court when a young person pleads guilty and is convicted for the first time of a criminal offence. When the court makes a Referral Order, the young person is referred to a Youth Offending Panel, which consists of two trained community volunteers supported by a worker for the Youth Offending Team. The panel will meet with the young person and their parent(s) to agree a contract with them, which is designed to tackle their offending. Victims are also invited to attend these panel meetings to have their views considered.
3. The Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO)
The Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO) is a robust community sentence providing a ‘menu’ of interventions for tackling offending behaviour and can be used on multiple occasions, minimising the use of custody. The (YRO) came into effect on 30 November 2009 as part of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.
It is the standard community sentence used for the majority of children and young people who offend. The (YRO) represents a more individualised risk and needs-based approach to community sentencing, enabling greater choice from a ‘menu’ of requirements. It simplifies sentencing for young people, while improving the flexibility of interventions and ensuring that it meets the needs of the young person.
The following requirements can be attached to a YRO:
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Activity Requirement
Curfew Requirement
Exclusion Requirement
Local Authority Residence Requirement
Education Requirement
Mental Health Treatment Requirement
Unpaid Work Requirement (16/17 years)
Drug Testing Requirement
Intoxicating Substance Treatment Requirement
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Supervision Requirement
Electronic Monitoring Requirement
Prohibited Activity Requirement
Drug Treatment Requirement
Residence Requirement
Programme Requirement
Attendance Centre Requirement
Intensive Supervision and Surveillance (based on the current ISSP)
Intensive Fostering
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4. Reparation Orders
A Reparation Order is designed to enable a young person to make some amends for their behaviour by paying something back to the community through unpaid work. A Reparation Order can include direct reparation to the victim but only with the victim’s consent. A number of Reparation Orders involve young people working in their own time on projects in the community.
5. Parenting Orders
A Parenting Order is a supportive intervention that seeks to work closely with parents to increase their insight around the issues that face young people and the risks of re-offending. A Parenting Order requires the parent or guardian to attend counseling or guidance sessions and to comply with any other conditions of the order.
The Youth Offending Team supervises parenting Orders made in the Youth Court because of criminal proceedings but Sungate undertake all contact with parents.