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Court services

Remand management

Remand management services ensure that young people who are charged with offences are managed within the community where possible. Secure remands (into prisons, young offender's institutions, and secure children's homes) are used only as a last resort, for the most serious and persistent of offenders.

The Remand Management Service assesses each young person who comes to Court, where the Court are considering a secure remand. Their role is to provide information to the Court, such as:

  • the circumstances relating to a young person's charges
  • offending history
  • compliance with interventions
  • identified offending risks including family and educational history

From this information, the service will then make a recommendation to the Court about whether the young person should remain in the community, or whether they should go into a secure environment. The scheme has to make these recommendations in accordance with legislation and Youth Justice Board guidance and standards.

The Court can make conditions on a young persons bail, requiring them to comply with a package of support such as the Bail Supervision and Support scheme (BSS); or the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP). The purpose of these schemes is to support young people to:

  • attend at further court appearances
  • comply with bail conditions
  • reduce the risk of offending whilst on bail
  • protect the public (including the victim and witnesses) from harm from them

Bail supervision and support

This programme is subject to "National Standards" set by the Youth Justice Board. The young person must be seen for a minimum of three contacts per week. This typically includes support with:

  • education, training or employment
  • anger management
  • drugs and alcohol issues
  • identifying suitable accommodation and benefits
  • transport to Court
  • maintaining the family and dealing with family difficulties

The Kent Remand Management Service can also offer support on a voluntary basis to young people, where the Court has not made any conditions on their bail.

The Kent Remand Management Service is implemented by the national charity Rainer, in close partnership with the Kent Youth Offending Service.

Rainer seeks to enable under-supported children and young people to improve their lives through:

  • giving them a voice
  • providing quality services that meet their needs
  • influencing society's thinking and government policy

Pre-sentence reports

When a young person is found guilty of a criminal offence, the Court have to decide how to deal with the offence and the young person. They often require the Youth Offending Service to prepare a report, called a "pre sentence report" (or PSR) to help them make this decision.

The PSR can use information about the young person, which is obtained from the young person, their family; the victim; the Police, school etc..

The report will include information about:

  • why the young person offended
  • their personal and home life
  • their educational or employment circumstances
  • what support the young person needs to prevent further offending

The report will advise the court about sentencing options and will make a recommendation about the best way of dealing with the young person. The Youth Offending Service will usually discuss the report with the young person before giving it to the Court.

Further information on Pre-Sentence reports is available on the leaflet below.

Guide to Pre-Sentence Reports leaflet

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