Youth Court
Youth Court
The Youth Court is a special type of magistrates’ court, covering criminal cases involving minors aged 10 to 17 years old.
At Alexander Bennett Solicitors, we understand that young people, and their parents/carers, can often feel anxious or overwhelmed when appearing at Youth Court. We appreciate that a different approach is needed to build trust and minimise the impact of the court processes on our young clients. With this in mind, we take the time to actively listen to you, to fully address your particular worries and to explain the legal process in very simple terms.
If our young client is happy for us to do so, we will involve parents and carers at every stage, but we also need to ensure that client confidentiality is respected.
What should I expect?
The youth court is less formal than adult courts and court staff and solicitors will not usually wear wigs or formal gowns. Youth court tends to focus more on prevention rather than punishment and cases have either three magistrates, known as “a bench”, or a district judge.
Any magistrate or judge presiding at youth court will have had special training on how to handle young people and should call you by your first name, speak directly to you and make sure that you understand what is happening.
There is no jury at the youth court and there is no public gallery, Members of the public are not allowed in unless they get specific permission to do so.
For very serious crimes (such as murder) or those where the young person is charged together with an adult, they may need to attend Crown Court.
Youth Court Proceedings
If you are under 16, then a parent or guardian must accompany you to the youth court. If you are 16 or 17, you do not have to bring a parent or guardian with you unless there is a court order saying so.
We recommend that you always bring a parent, carer or other suitable adult to the youth court for support. In addition, your legal representative will also be present, as well as a member of the local Youth Offending Service (YOS).
The offence will be read out and you will then plead ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’, after which all evidence is heard.
If the magistrates or judge decide that you are guilty, a sentence will then be given.
Sentencing
If you have admitted guilt or have been found guilty, a sentence will be given. The type of sentence that can be handed down by a youth court include:
- Discharges
- Fines
- Referral Orders
- Youth Rehabilitation Orders
- Custodial Sentences (usually Detention and Training Orders)
To determine which sentence is given, a Pre-Sentence Report, compiled by the youth offending team, will be considered, together with the nature and severity of the crime. If the report is available on the day and no further input is required, your sentence will be given then and there. Alternatively, you may need to return to the youth court at a later time to be given your sentence. In the meantime, you will be on remand and either kept in custody or permitted to return home on bail.
The maximum sentence handed down in the youth court is a two-year Detention and Training Order (DTO). This means you spend half of the sentence in custody – in a young offender institution, secure training centre or other secure centre – and the other half of the sentence outside, under the supervision of the local YOS. Children under the age of 10 cannot be placed in custody while 12 to 14 year olds can only be placed in custody if they are persistent offenders.
Factors which influence the sentence
When sentencing a child or young person, judges and magistrates must consider the main aim of the youth justice system, which is the prevention of offending, as well as the welfare of the child.
The judge or magistrate will also consider, amongst other things:
- age and maturity
- the seriousness of the offence
- any relevant health issues
- family circumstances
- any previous offending history
- whether the offence was admitted
- whether remorse has been shown
Contact Us
Alexander Bennett Solicitors knows the impact a criminal record can have on the lives of young people and we are committed to protecting your future. From the outset, we fight to prevent our young clients from being charged with a criminal offence and to secure the best possible outcome.
We have a wealth of experience in defending young people with a range of needs, backgrounds and case requirements, as well as an expertise in the different procedures and laws of the youth court.
If you or a loved one have been accused of a crime, please contact us today, by telephone, email or by completing our contact form.
With a young person’s freedom and future at stake, you should not settle for anything less than Alexander Bennett Solicitors.
I would recommend this firm to anyone looking for amazing turnaround and a brilliant experience.
