Youth justice orders and other court sentencing
You’ll have a Youth Justice Service (YJS) officer who will support you and explain what to do.
Referral orders
If you are aged 10 to 17 and go to court for the first time, you may be given a referral order if you plead guilty. This means you won’t go to custody but instead will work with your YJS officer and a panel to create a plan of intervention to support you to make positive changes.
Referral orders last between three and 12 months.
Youth rehabilitation order (YRO)
A YRO is a way for the court to help you stay out of trouble and make better choices.
It can last up to three years. You’ll work with someone from the YJS who will support you during this time.
Depending on what you need, the court might ask you to:
- go to certain activities or programmes
- get help or counselling (for example, with mental health or drugs/alcohol)
- do work to understand and change your behaviour
- go to school or training regularly
If you do not follow the YRO you will have to go to court again.
Intensive supervision and surveillance (ISS)
If your offence is more serious, you might be given Intensive Supervision and Surveillance instead of custody. This means up to 25 hours a week of activities and support for at least three months, and which then reduces over time.
Custody
For very serious offences, the court can give you a detention and training order (DTO) for between four and 24 months.
You’ll spend the first half in custody and the second half in the community, supported by the YJS. The YJS and your placement will agree on what you must do before you are fully released.
If the offence is very serious, you might stay in custody longer, and your release will be decided by a parole board.
