CLP 8 Youth Flashcards
What are the aims of the youth justice system?
- prevent children and young people from offending
- to have regard to the welfare of the child or young person
What is the age of criminal responsibility?
10
How old are the following:
Youth/Juvenile
Young person
Child
Youth/Juvenile - under 18
Young person - 14 - 17
Child - 10-13
Is there a statutory definition of a persistent youth offender?
No - but guilt, in relation to imprisonable offences on at least 3 occasions in the past 12 months will do it.
Who sits in the Youth Court
either:
a district judge, or
no more than 3 magistrates
Are the public allowed to observe in the Youth Court?
No - also reporting restrictions
At what age must the court require a parent or guardian to attend at all stages of the hearing?
Under 16 ‘unless and to the extent that the court is satisfied that it would be unreasonable to require such attendance, having regard to the circumstances of the case’
At what age may the court require a parent or guardian to attend at all stages of the hearing?
16 or 17
What modifications may be made to court?
Arrange a familiarisation visit to the court
Remove wigs and gowns in the Crown Court
Refer to a child by their first name
Have a child sitting out of the dock
Have a child sitting close to an appropriate adult
Have a child sitting close to their lawyer
Arrange for regular breaks
Avoid complicated language, use clear and simple questions4
Be proactive in ensuring the child has access to support
Keep public access to a minimum
Use an intermediary to help communication
Use a live link to give evidence
Take time to explain court proceedings a child what is going on
When should a person be treated as under 18 at the police station?
Anyone who appears to be under 18, shall, in the absence of clear evidence that they are older, be treated as a juvenile
Who should be informed of the juvenile’s arrest?
The person responsible for the juvenile’s welfare and the appropriate adult (who may not be the same person) must be informed as soon as practicable that the juvenile has been arrested, why he has been arrested and where he is being detained.
Can the appropriate adult instruct a solicitor on behalf of a juvenile?
Yes
Can the appropriate adult meet with the juvenile in private?
Yes
What happens if a Juvenile is cautioned in the absence of an appropriate adult?
The caution must be repeated in the AA’s presence
Can a Juvenile consent to an ID procedure by themselves?
No, the consent of the juvenile’s parent/guardian, as well as their own, is required for participation in any ID procedure.
If a youth is detained for court, where should they be placed?
local authority accommodation unless:
it is impracticable for the custody officer to do so i.e. physically impossible; or
in the case of a youth aged 12 – 17, no secure accommodation is available and other local authority accommodation would not be adequate to protect the public from serious harm.
What additional consideration is there as to whether a youth should have bailed refused?
Detained in his “own interests”
Where the youth has been arrested pursuant to an alleged breach of bail or breach of remand conditions, can the youth can be detained in police custody in the first instance?
Yes. Where the youth has been arrested pursuant to an alleged breach of bail or breach of remand conditions, the youth can be detained in police custody.
Who can act as an AA?
the parent, guardian or anyone else with parental responsibility;
a social worker; or
any other responsible adult who is not a police officer.
Can an AA insist to be in the room with a suspect and their solicitor?
No
Which Court would a youth first attend (if not jointly charged with an adult)?
Youth Court
Who Cannot act as an AA?
are suspected of involvement in the offence;
are the victim;
are a witness;
are involved in the investigation; or
have received admissions prior to attending to act as the AA.
A solicitor or independent custody visitor who is present at the police station and acting in that capacity, may not be the appropriate adult.
An estranged parent should NOT be asked to act as AA if the juvenile specifically objects to it.
In what circumstances can a Youth Caution be given?
- the police are satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to charge the youth with an offence;
- the youth admits the offence to the police;
- the police do not consider that the youth should be prosecuted or given a youth conditional caution for the offence.
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- The police cannot issue a youth caution for an offence that is indictable only in the case of an adult without the authority of the CPS.
- There is no statutory restriction on the number of youth cautions that a youth can receive, and a youth may receive a youth caution even if he or she has previous convictions, reprimands, warnings, youth cautions and youth conditional cautions.
When determining a sentence for a youth, what are the key considerations?
- prevent re-offending by children and young people;
- the welfare of the child or young person;
- the age of the child or young person (chronological, developmental and emotional)
- the seriousness of the offence which is determined in the same way as for adults by assessing the culpability and harm;
- the likelihood of further offences being committed; and
- the extent of harm likely to result from those further offences.
What is the relevant age for the purposes of sentencing
The age of the offender at the date of conviction
When will a youth not have their first hearing before the Youth Court?
- Jointly charged with an adult
- charge of aiding and abetting with an adult
- the youth is charged with an offence that arises out of the same circumstances as, or connected with, an offence an adult is charged with
If a youth does not have their first hearing in the Youth Court, where will their first hearing be held?
In the Magistrate’s court.
A youth will only have their first hearing in the magistrates court if they are jointly charged with an adult.
Can a youth elect to be tried in the Crown Court for an either way offence?
No
When can the youth court commit a youth to the Crown Court for sentencing?
- Youth is convicted of a ‘grave crime’ and the court considers a Crown Court should have power to sentence in excess of two years’ detention.
- Committal for sentence of dangerous young offenders (s.17 SA 2020).
- Committal for sentence for related offences (s.19 SA 2020).