Youth Justice (Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies): Revision Note

How the youth justice system works

• The criminal justice system treats children and young people differently to adults

  • Children aged 10 to 17 can be arrested and appear in court

• In 2023, 59,045 children were arrested

  • 16,589 appeared in court

  • 5,014 received a caution

• In 2023, 11,911 children were sentenced

  • 8,306 received community sentences

  • 544 received custodial sentences

  • 3,061 received other court sentences

Youth Court hearings

• Cases are usually heard in a Youth Court

• The case is heard by three local magistrates or a district judge

  • If the accused is under 16, a parent, guardian or carer must attend court

• The hearing follows similar procedures to a magistrates’ court, including how evidence is presented

• If the accused pleads guilty, they may receive a caution

  • Other sentences include community sentences, training orders or detention in secure youth centres

• Serious cases can be transferred to the Crown Court

Youth Offending Teams and the Youth Justice Board

• Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) work locally with young people who are in trouble with the law

  • They support young people who are arrested, charged or sentenced

• The Youth Justice Board oversees the youth justice system

  • It supports improvements in youth justice services

  • It works to reduce racial inequality in the system

  • It helps develop youth justice policy and practice

How the youth justice system differs to other courts

• Youth Courts are less formal than adult courts

  • Defendants are usually called by their first names

• Children are given greater protection than adults

  • Their identity cannot usually be disclosed outside court

  • Reporting restrictions prevent publishing names, addresses, schools or photographs

• There is a greater focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment

  • Community sentences and support are used more often than prison

  • Custodial sentences are used only in serious cases