The criminal justice service: A guide for young people

Our key aims Protect the public and support victims and witnesses Bring offenders to justice Turn people away from crime Stop crime from happening in the first place

Confidence in the CJS Through engagement with young people we aim to: Inform people about the work and performance of the criminal justice service, showing it is fair and effective Listen to young people’s priorities about crime and anti-social behaviour Show young people how they can make a difference and play their part in tackling crime, as -Volunteers -Witnesses -Active citizens in their local communities Ensure young people are confident that the criminal justice service will support them – either as a victim or witness.

Young people and crime The majority of young people do not commit crime and make a positive contribution to their communities. The Government estimates that five per cent of young people are responsible for more than half of all youth crime. Crime is reducing as a whole whatever your age. Each year, around 100,000 young people enter the criminal justice system for the first time. Each crime committed by a young person costs an average of £5,000. The cost of youth custody for London YP is around £30million a year. Turning just one in ten of the young people sentenced to custody away from crime would save £100 million nationally. Young people are more likely to be either a victim or offender for certain types of crime – such as street crime. Research shows that some young victims of crime can rapidly go on to become offenders.

Youth Justice

Out of court When a young person is charged with an offence they don’t always end up in court. Young people must have a parent or appropriate adult with them when they are charged. If a young person commits a first or second offence and admits guilt most cases can be dealt with out of court but still have serious consequences. Young people may receive final warnings from the police, reprimands and/or referrals to Youth Offending Teams. If a young person commits further offences or is charged with a more serious offence the courts become involved.

When a young person appears in court they can be bailed to appear at the court again on a certain date or remanded in custody if the offence is serious. If the young person is charged with a very serious offence or charged with an adult, the Youth Court will refer the case to the Crown Court. If the person pleads guilty or is convicted after evidence is heard by the court, they are sentenced. Court process

The Courts Youth Courts: Handle most cases involving young people. Specially trained magistrates hear cases in private. Journalists and the public are not allowed in. Proceedings are more informal than in adult criminal courts. Can make a range of sentencing powers including detention, supervision orders, fines and conditional discharges. The maximum length of the detention and training orders they can impose is 24 months. If the offence is very serious, or the young person is charged with an adult the case can be transferred to a Crown Court.

The Courts Magistrates’ Courts: Deal with cases involving adults (over 18) generally but a young person can appear if charged with an adult. Most criminal cases are dealt with by magistrates. 97% of cases are heard in the Magistrates’ Court. They include the less serious offences but some of the most difficult decisions relate to deciding bail in serious cases. Cases are either dealt with by volunteer magistrates from the local community who receive special training sit in panels of three with a legal adviser OR District Judges who are paid legal professionals and can sit alone. Magistrates are limited to imposing sentences of 12 months imprisonment or a £5,000 fine.

The Courts Crown Courts: Deal with the most serious criminal cases. Youth Courts and Magistrates’ Courts send more serious cases to Crown Court for:  sentencing by a Judge  trial on not guilty pleas to serious charges involving jury and judge Can impose the maximum sentence for offences.

The CJS agencies The police: Work to protect life and property. Are responsible for law enforcement. Police officer powers include stop and search as well as arrest. After a young person is charged with a crime, the police decide whether they should be given bail or need to be kept in custody until their court case. The three police forces operating in London are the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), City of London Police, and British Transport Police. The Metropolitan Police Service has 31,000 police officers, 14,000 police support staff and 4,000 Police Community Safety Officers. Their crime mapping is available to view by the public and you can see information about crime in your area. The MPS run a cadet scheme for volunteers aged Each borough has around 20 Safer Neighbourhood teams working with communities in defined local areas to respond to crime and anti-social behaviour.

The CJS agencies The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS): Works to bring people to justice Decides whether there is enough evidence Decides what the charge should be eg:  Certain crimes including racially or religiously motivated crimes (hate crimes are treated have specially categories with additional penalties.  Domestic violence crime is a priority and Prepares cases for and presents these cases in court. It can seek compensation and satisfaction for victims of crime. Works with communities, local authorities and the police to tackle anti- social behaviour (ASB) by obtaining ASB orders after conviction. Works with the police to support victims and witnesses. Employs 9,000 people – a third of whom are prosecutors.

The CJS agencies Her Majesty’s Court Service (HMCS): HMCS works to deliver justice speedily and fairly. Runs all courts in England and Wales including: Magistrates, Youth, Crown, Appeal and Family. New pilot Community Justice Courts HMCS services include:  legal advice and support to magistrates and judges.  collection service for fines imposed by courts.  Reception staff and ushers who take people in and out of court.  Organising court time for cases so courts are efficiently run.

The CJS agencies Youth Offending Teams (YOTs): Work with young people (aged 10-17) who have offended or are risk of doing so. If a young person has received a community sentence by a court YOTs ensure they follow the terms and conditions of court orders to reduce the risk of re-offending. They also supervise and support young people released from custody on licence – to reduce the risk of re-offending. YOTs organise referral panels with community volunteers sitting on them. These can work with the parents of young people at risk of re-offending to devise contracts of good behaviour for them. They can also issue final warnings and reprimands or seek a curfew. Assess the needs of young people and identify programmes. Are multi-agency teams and include police officers, youth and social workers, as well as probation staff. YOT staff may attend police stations as necessary if a young person is arrested.

The CJS agencies The Probation Service (London Probation): Supervises offenders given community sentences Supervises offenders released from prison on licence Supports offenders to change their behaviour through individual and group based work – such as anger management, sex offender and domestic violence programmes. London Probation employs 3,000 staff and supervises 80,000 offenders a year, preparing around 30,000 reports for court. Runs unpaid work schemes in the community for offenders given community sentences – called community payback. Runs hostels for offenders requiring additional supervision/support. Helps offenders turn their back on crime and develop new skills through employment and training services. Helps offenders tackle problems that contribute to them committing crimes – such as alcohol and drug misuse, mental health or relationships issues, referring to specialist programmes as necessary.

The CJS agencies The Prison Service: Runs most prisons and youth offender institutions. It aims to ensure accommodation for prisoners is secure and works to stop re-offending on release. Prison population (August 2008) 83,406, including: - 78,976 male prisoners - 4,430 female prisoners - 13,787 people on remand - 9,747 young adults - 2,403 young people (aged years old). Roles in the Prison Service include, security, administration, bail information services as well as in programmes to address problems contributing to offending. The main youth offender institutions (17-21) are Feltham and The Mount in Hemel Hempstead. Young people who are 16 and under go to special secure units.

Victim Support: National charity supporting victims and witnesses. Independent and offers support whether or not a crime is reported to the police. Runs witness services to help witnesses and their families. More than 10,000 volunteers In 2007:  Victim Support helped more than 250,000 witnesses  contacted more than 1,500,000 victims of crime.