Menu

Court sentences for children

The court can give a range of sentences, known as court orders. The order the court gives depends on the severity of the offence.

Types of court sentences

Referral Order (RO)

You will complete your order in the community, where it can last between 3 and 12 months.

You will attend an initial panel meeting where you will agree to a contract, which states what you need to do. The contract is aimed at repairing the harm that has been caused and how to address the cause of your offending behaviour.

It will start once your contract is agreed at your initial panel meeting.

Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO)

You will complete your order in the community. There will be rules and conditions you need to follow which will be set by the court. For example:

  • not going to specific places
  • not seeing specific people
  • an electronically monitored curfew
  • unpaid work or taking part in activities.

It always involves working with us, the Youth Justice Team.

The court will tell you how long your order is for. It can last up to 3 years and will start as soon as you are sentenced.

Youth Rehabilitation Order with intensive supervision and surveillance

A Youth Rehabilitation Order with intensive supervision and surveillance is a direct alternative to custody. This means that you will be in the community. This order can be used when a serious crime has been committed or lots of crimes.

There are certain things you must do that include:

  • Supervision
    • you will have to meet with your youth justice practitioner and other agencies, like the drug and alcohol service (We Are With You) and the mental health service (CYPMHS).
    • you will be supported with education, training or employment, offending behaviour, restorative justice and other areas to help keep you out of trouble, and to keep you and other people safe.
  • Activity - you will have to meet with your youth justice practitioner and other agencies for up to 25 hours a week, including weekends.
  • Curfew - you have to stay at home between certain hours and/or avoid certain places. Your curfew may be electronically monitored with a tag via GPS. You will need to attend weekly meetings with the police.
  • Exclusion - you may be told you cannot go to certain places. Your location may be electronically monitored with a tag via GPS.

There may be other things you need to do as well.

Custody

Custody is reserved for those who have committed the most serious offences or lots of crimes.

Detention and Training Order (DTO)

If you get a custodial sentence in court, you will be taken to the court cells and then taken to the secure estate shortly after you receive your sentence.

A secure estate can be a secure training centre, a secure children's home or a youth offending institution. The first half of your sentence will be spent in the secure estate.

You will have a dedicated officer in the secure estate who will look after you. They are called a caseworker. They will visit you along with your youth justice practitioner who will be your contact in the secure estate, as well as facilitate any review meetings.

While you are in the secure estate you have to attend education and engage in offending behaviour programmes. You will have access to additional support for substance misuse and your mental health.

The other part of your sentence will be spent in the community under the supervision of the Youth Justice Team. This is known as 'licence' or 'notice of supervision'.

You may also be eligible for early release. This is agreed for good behaviour when you are sentenced to 8 months or more.

Section 90 and Section 91

A Section 90 can only be given if a child is found guilty of murder and a Section 91 is for other serious offences like rape or grievous bodily harm (GBH).

These orders are usually given when the court wants to give a sentence longer than 24 months up to life sentence.

The youth justice practitioner will meet with you to explain possible outcomes. You will need to attend a youth court who will send your case to the Crown Court. The youth court will then decide if you can be bailed and released into the community, or if you need to be remanded.

You will work with a youth justice practitioner while waiting for your court date and they will write a pre-sentence report.

You will spend your sentence in custody, but you can be released earlier if you show good behaviour while in custody.

Your worker will request an early release by putting your case forward to a Parole Board who will decide if there is enough support in the community.

You will still need to work with the Youth Justice Team for the full length of your sentence or until you turn 18 when you will work with the Probation Service.

Fines and compensation

You might need to pay some money, fines are usually to cover court costs. The maximum amount you will be asked to pay is £1,000 (or up to £250 if you are under 14). Compensation is to fix damage or harm and goes to the victims. It cannot exceed £5,000.

  • This can be paid in various ways, such as online or by phone on GOV.UK.
  • Parents must pay the fine if you are under 16 years old.
  • The court will take your financial situation into account, so you should be ready to give these details to your solicitor or to the court.