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Social Services Youth Offending Team
The main aim of the referral order is to stop you from offending again
The court will decide the length of the order. You will then be referred to a youth offender panel, who will agree what you will have to do while you are on the order. You will have to sign a contract at the panel meeting, agreeing to certain activities to prevent re-offending. The panel aims to:
All crimes are serious and have penalties and consequences. This is the first time you have gone to court and as you have pleaded guilty, you must attend a youth offender panel. The panel enables you to dealt with in a way that is different to any other court order.
The Panel consists of three people, two community volunteers, and one youth offending team worker. At the panel meeting you will agree a plan of action after they have heard your views on what you have done, the views and feelings of any victim or person affected (who may be at the panel) by the offence and the views of your parents (or supporter)
A member of the Youth Offending Team (YOT) will see you at court when the referral order is made. This is so we can arrange an appointment for you to attend the youth offending team so we can find out more information about you, your circumstances and needs.
You will be given a time and date for the panel meeting which you must attend. If you are under sixteen years of age, your parents or guardians must attend the meeting as well. The court may order them to attend even if you are over sixteen. If you would like anyone else to attend who you think would help you stay out of trouble (and they are over 18, perhaps an uncle, teacher, social worker) please tell the youth team worker.
If you do not attend the panel meeting you may have to go back to court. If your parents or guardians fail to attend the meeting and they were ordered to do so then they might have to go to court.
The panel will be a lot less formal then the court, but you are still expected to treat everyone with respect. The victim may well be present at the meeting along with two community panel members and a Youth Offending Team worker.
If the victim attends the meeting, there will be an opportunity for them and their supporter to express their feelings about the effects the offence has had on them and what they would like to happen as a result. At the meeting you will discuss the sort of activities included as part of your order.
The contract might include:
When you have negotiated the agreement and signed the contract with the panel, you will be expected to complete it throughout the length of your order. The Youth Offending Team will provide you with the support you need to successfully complete the contract.
Every three months or sooner you will be expected to attend a panel meeting to review your progress, and to discuss any problems you may have. If you have any difficulties with the contract you can ask to meet the panel to discuss them. If you fail to do something that is in your contract, then a meeting will be called and the panel could decide to send you back to court for a formal sentence.
When have successfully complete your contract there will be a final meeting to end your sentence.
If you complete your ‘agreement’ then your conviction will become ‘spent’. Spent means that you do not have to tell anyone about it, and most people will have no right to know about it (the only exception is if you are applying for certain jobs – for example. working with children). The Referral order is the only court order that will not be recorded as a criminal conviction.
If you offend again you will go straight back to court and you will not be eligible for another Referral Order.
Contact the Youth Offending Team.
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