Referral Order Panels
What is a Referral Order?
This is an Order that came into force on 1 April 2002.
It is to be used for all young people between the ages of 10 - 17 appearing in Court for the first time and pleading guilty to the offence (unless the offence is so serious).
The Court will set the Referral Order between 3 and 12 months depending on the seriousness of the offence.
Once the Court have proposed a Referral Order a member from the Youth Offending Service (YOS) will contact the young person and their parent/carer.
Then, within 20 days, the young person is referred to a community panel of volunteers, who, in participation with the Youth Offending Service and where possible the victim, will attempt to understand the reasons for the offending behaviour. The panel will work with the young person to write a contract to make reparation to the community, or directly to the victim, for the offending behaviour, as well as looking at tackling the issues surrounding the offending behaviour.
The YOS's job is to provide many of the services for young people who get into trouble. They try to help young people to stop committing more crimes. The service is made up of staff from several agencies including Police, Probation, Education and Health. The Referral Order involves the young person and their parent or carer attending a Youth Offender Panel. The panel will consider the circumstances leading to the offence and the effect on the victim.
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