What Happens When a Young Person Breaks the Law
If a young person commits a crime, they may be given something called a disposal.
This means a decision is made about what should happen next.
The type of disposal depends on:
- How serious the offence is
- If the young person has broken the law before
Out of Court Disposals
These are given by the police, without going to court.
They are part of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.
Types include:
- Community Resolution – the young person agrees to make things right
- Youth Caution – a formal warning
- Youth Conditional Caution – a warning with rules to follow
Court Disposals
These are given by a Magistrate in court.
They involve working with the Staffordshire Youth Offending Service.
Types include:
- Referral Orders – the young person meets a panel to agree on actions
- Intensive Supervision and Surveillance – close monitoring and support
- Reparation Orders – the young person does something to make up for the harm caused