Youth Courts and the appearance of youths in other courts

Question 1

what is the definition of an adult?

Answer 1

some who is aged 18+

Question 2

what is a child?

Answer 2

a person under 14

Question 3

what is a young person?

Answer 3

a person aged between 14- 18(14-17 inclusive.)

Question 4

at what age do you become criminally responsible?

Answer 4

10

Question 5

true or false:
the youth court has jurisdiction to try offences which are triable only on indictment (with the exception of homicide and certain firearms offences)

Answer 5

true

Question 6

true or false:
an accused under 18 may be tried summarily for an indictable offence whatever his or her wishes as to mode of trial may be.

Answer 6

true

Question 7

does an accused under 18 have right to elect CC trial?

Answer 7

No

Question 8

when might a child or young person be sent to the CC for trial?

Answer 8

mags have decided that they shouldn’t accept jurisdiction

Question 9

if sent to the CC for trial, what may the accused do?

Answer 9

make representation for or against staying in the youth court.

Question 10

when must a child or young person be tried in the CC?

Answer 10

if they are charged with murder or with certain offences to which mandatory minimum sentence provisions apply

Question 11

when might a child or young person be tried in the CC?

Answer 11

if charged with an offence to which the PCC(S)A s91 applies or with an offence which falls within the ambit of the dangerous provisions of the CJA 2003 or alongside an adult accused.

Question 12

when can a child/young person be tried in an adult magistrates?

Answer 12

if charged alongside an adult accused.

Question 13

who are the only people permitted in the youth court?

Answer 13

members of the court/ court officials
parties to the case before the court and legal reps
witnesses and other persons directly concerned in that case
bona fide reps of news gathering or reporting organisations
anyone else directly involved in the case
such other persons as the court may specially authorise to be present.

Question 14

true or false:
where child or young person appears in adult mags or CC, the public has a right to be present unless the court takes the exceptional step of sitting in private?

Answer 14

true

Question 15

when might a parent or guardian be needed to attend court?

Answer 15

if the accused is under 16

Question 16

true or false:
where local authority has parental responsibility, they are also required to attend along with the parent?

Answer 16

true

Question 17

what is the procedure like in the youth court?

Answer 17

less formal as accused sits on chair and has a parent or guardian sitting nearby, accused and any young witnesses are addressed by their first names and the oath taken is a promise not a swear. the mags talk directly to the child/young person and their parent/guardian.