21. Youth Courts and the appearance of youths in other courts Flashcards
who is classed as an adult?
18 or over
sometimes 21 and over for sentencing
who is classed as a child ?
under 14
who is classed as a young person?
aged 14-17 inclusive
what is the age of crim responsibility?
irrebuttable presumption that someone u10 cannot be guilty of a criminal offence.
where are children and young people dealt with?
youth court.
what is a trial in the youth court?
effectively a summary trial
what cases can youth court try?
can try offences that for adults would be indictable only
can someone u18 elect CC trial?
no, if a child/yp is sent to CC for trial it is because the mags have decided they should not accept jurisdiciton
when must a child be tried in CC?
if charged with:
* homicide or
* certain offences to which mandatory minimum sentence provisions apply
when may a child or yp be tried in CC ?
if charged with:
* an offence to which SA 2020, s.249 applies or
* offence which falls within ambit of dangerous offender provisions or
* charged alongside adult accused (can also be tried in adults MC)
who is allowed in youth court?
- members of court and court officials
- parties to case
- witnesses and other persons directly concerned in that case
- bona fide representatives of news organisations (reporting restrictions)
- anyone directly involved in case (probation officers / social)
- anyone who court authorises
can the public be in a Youth Court?
no
can public go in CC if youth is appearing there?
yes, unless court sits in private (exceptional)
when should the attendance of a parent or guardian be ordered?
MUST be ordered where accused U16 and MAY be ordered in any other case
UNLESS it would be unreasonable to do so having regard to case circumstances
who is a guardian?
anyone who has for time being care of the child or young person
what happens if local authority has parental responsibility?
their rep rather than (or in certain cases as well as) parent must be required to attended
what words replace conviction and sentence in youth cases?
conviction - finding of guilt
sentence - order made on finding of guilt
course of trial in youth court is?
Essentially same as trial in adult MC.
how does youth court differ from adult MC?
- accused sits in chair not dock
- usually has parent/guardian nearby
- accused and young witnesses addressed by their first names
- oath taken by witness is a promise
when will a Plea before venue (PBV) take palce?
where court would otherwise be required to send to CC for trial because either:
* case falls within s.249 or
* adult co-accused
when does PBV not apply?
where child/yp charged with homicide.
what is the test for sending to CC where child/yp has adult co-accused?
whether it is necessary in the interests of justice for the child or young person to be sent to the Crown Court for trial as well
what is the test for sending to CC where s.249 applies?
mags will consider whether it ought to be possible to impose a sentence of detention under that section if the accused is found guilty of it.
can a PBV be determined in absence of child/yp?
yes if:
* legally repped AND
* court considers that accused’s disorderly conduct makes it impracticable for them to be conducted in presence AND
* court thinks should proceed in absence
when can a child be sent to CC for a related offence?
where court sends C/yp for trial with adult co-accused it can send them for:
* related indictable offence and
* related summary offence if punishable by imprisonment/disqualification.
how is allocation determined?
if child/yp indicates NG plea:
* court will invite reps from pros and def as to whether in ints of justice to send to CC.
must balance conflicting interests of benefits of joint trial and trauma for child/yp
child/yp should wherever possible be tried in YC
what will the court take into account when deciding whether to send to CC ?
- age & maturity of young D
- age gap between young person and adult
- culpability in relation to offence compared to adult
- pre-cons of the two
- whether trial can be severed w/o injustice & inconvenience to witnesses.
- also the fact that YC can commit for sentence
can CC remit a youth to YC?
where accused is U18 and sent to CC for trial, CC must consider whether to send D back to youth court and if they decide not to, must give reasons for doing so. (unless trial on indictment)