Following an interview the police have number of options:
- They can release you without charge (NFA)
- Bail you pending further enquiries
- Administer a Reprimand
- Make a referral to the Youth Offending Service with a view to issuing a final warning at a later date (and bail you to return to the police station at that date)
- If you have not admitted your guilt or it is a serious offence you will be charged and normally bailed to appear before the next available court. If you live in Fenland this will usually be in Wisbech or if you live in East Cambs or South Cambs this will be in Cambridge
Reprimands
If you receive a Reprimand your details will be passed to the Youth Offending Service (YOS) who will send a letter to you and your parents offering advice and guidance to help prevent you offending in the future.
Final Warning
If a Final Warning is proposed you will be visited by a member of the Youth Offending Team who will carry out a assessment to see if you are suitable for a Final Warning. If they feel that there are some areas of work which will help reduce your offending they will offer a Final Warning Programme which may include a element of Reparation (unpaid work to make amends for your offence).
Appearing in court
If you have received both of these types of orders, or if the offence was serious, you will normally appear before the youth court. Only if a guilty plea is entered will the magistrates be able to deal with you on the day. They can discharge you from the court with a warning called a absolute discharge or send you to a secure hospital or prison. Generally they will make a referral order for up to 12 months.
Referral orders
A referral order is intended to help a young person address their behaviour and allows them to say sorry to the victim and carry out reparation. A contract is agreed with a specially trained panel of volunteers and the order is supervised by a YOS officer.
Punishments for further offences
If a young person returns to court having committed further offences the court can impose all of the following orders:
- Reparation Orders
Up to 24hrs reparation to the Community or the victim. This is done in the offender's own time normally at the weekends or during holidays - Action Plan Order
This is a 3 month order which combines some intensive supervision and reparation - Attendance Centre
This is held in Kings Lynn, once a fortnight on a Saturday afternoon, and includes an education session followed by a Physical Education session - Curfew
This order requires a young person to be inside their house between the hours set by the court. Equipment is installed on the offender and at their house to allow a private company to monitor them - Supervision Order
This is similar to a Action Plan Order, but for up to 2 years. It allows YOS workers and the young person a longer period of time to address issues which might be causing the young person to offend - Financial Penalty
The court can impose fines, compensation and court costs. If you are under 16 yrs of age your parents are made liable to repay this - Parenting Order
Again if you are under 16 the court has a duty to impose a parenting order on your parents if it believes it will be desirable to prevent you offending. This means your parents may have to attend sessions which will assist them in dealing with your behaviour in the future - Detention and Training Order
Courts can send young people to prison-type detention for up to 2 years in youth court cases and longer in crown court cases. You will normally serve half you sentance in custody and the remaining time on licence to the YOS. If you offend again or do not follow the conditions of the license you can be sent back to custody
For more information go to www.homeoffice.gov.uk and follow the link to Youth Justice.
