Youths I Flashcards
What people go through the youth justice system? What are its 2 aims?
- Young people aged 10-17
- 1) prevent children/young people from offending and 2) have regard to welfare of child/young person
Where will the majority of young people be tried and sentenced?
Youth court
Can a child under 10 be guilty of an offence?
No
What is the difference between juvenile, child and young person?
- Juvenile = under age of 18
- Child = under the age of 14
- Young person = between 14-17
When is someone likely to be categorised as a ‘persistent young offender’ (PYO)?
If they have been convicted of/made subject to pre-court disposal that involves an admission/finding of guilt in relation to imprisonable offences on at least 3 occasions in past 12 months
Will a young person always appear before the youth court?
Usually - but circumstances where youth can appear before adult magistrates’ or Crown
Can youths be dealt with by the youth court for all offences including indictable-only?
Presumption is that youths will be dealt with by youth court for nearly all offences (even indictable-only)
What will the bench in a youth court consist of? What reporting restrictions will automatically apply?
Either:
- District Judge sitting alone; or
- Not more than 3 magistrates
Reporting restrictions automatically apply but can be lifted (but rare before conviction)
Who can be present in a youth court?
Unlike magistrates’/Crown, youth court is not a public court
- Members and officers of the court
- Parties (accused + parents/guardian)
- Legal representatives
- Witnesses and other persons directly concerned (e.g. probation officers)
- Bona fide reps of newspapers (but note reporting restrictions)
- Anyone else specially authorised to be present
Where a youth appears before magistrates’/Crown as a D or witness, are the public still excluded?
No
When must the court require a parent/guardian to attend with youth at all stages of proceedings? When will this not be the case?
If accused is under 16 - unless court satisfied it would be unreasonable to require attendance
What is the situation for accused when they are 16/17 in terms of parents and guardians attending?
Court may require parent/guardian to attend
What is mean by parent and guardian?
- Parent inc adoptive
- Guardian = anyone who has care of child/young person for time being
If the youth under the care of local authority = their representative must (or may) attend court instead of, or sometimes in addition to, the parent.
What informalities are adopted in youth court?
- Lawyers and witnesses remain seated
- Lawyers not robed
- Youth sits in chair not in the dock and parent/guardian sits next to them
- Magistrates talk directly to Ds and parents rather than communicating via solicitor
- Youth (witnesses) are addressed by first names
- Oath changed to ‘promise’ to tell truth rather than ‘swear’
- Language used is different
What will the juvenile be treated as at a police station under PACE? Who is required to attend?
Additional safeguards
- Treated as a vulnerable suspect
- Appropriate adult is required to attend (to look after welfare of suspect)
What is meant by a precautionary approach towards juveniles and when will this be adopted?
- Precautionary approach = CO/police treating detainee as a juvenile
- Adopted for anyone who appears to be under 18 in absence of clear evidence that they are older
Any dispute as to age will be for a court to determine if the suspect is charged with an offence.
Who should be informed of the juvenile’s arrest? Do they have to be? What 3 things are they informed about if they are?
- The person responsible for juvenile’s welfare must be informed ASAPracticable
- That they have been arrested, why they have been arrested and where they are being detained