Referral Order Panels

• What is a Youth Offender Panel?
• Preparing for the Panel
• The Panel Meeting
• The Contract
• The Future

Preparing for the Panel

A Youth Offending Service worker will visit the young person at home and will ask about the offence and the reasons for the offending. They will ask how the offender and their family feel about the offence and what the likelihood is of further offences taking place.

They will also want to know about the young person's education, background and interests. With all this information they will write a report to share with the panel.

The Youth Offending Service will also contact the victim of the crime to find out how they feel. They will be asked if they would like to attend the panel to explain to the young person what the impact of the crime has been on them. If they wish to attend, they need not stay for the whole of the meeting.

Crime causes damage and distress to its victims. Victim/young offender mediation is a way to begin repairing the damage and remedying the distress.