Frequently
Asked Questions
1. What are the different
stages of the Youth Justice Process?
The Youth Justice Process begins with active measures
dealing with the prevention of crime and, when all
other measures have failed, can end with a custodial
sentence. This 'sliding scale' approach is summarised
in the diagram below.
2. What age range of
young people is the YOS working with?
The criminal age of responsibility in England and
Wales is 10 years of age and the YOS is working with
young people up to the age of 17 across Sheffield who
have committed an offence and have been referred by
the courts or South Yorkshire Police. Where young
people committed an offence before their 18th
birthday, the YOS will supervise that order until it
expires. In addition, the Prevention Team are working
with young people aged between 8 – 17 who although
they have been identified as being at risk of engaging
in anti-social and offending behaviour have not
entered the Youth Justice System.
3. What does it mean for
a parent if your child becomes involved with the YOS?
If your child becomes involved with the youth justice
system at any level Sheffield YOS may offer you the
opportunity to voluntarily attend a parenting
programme, if you think it would be useful. However,
if the YOS or Court believe that you need a parenting
programme to help stop your child offending and that
you may not attend voluntarily, they can ask for a
Parenting Order, which will legally require your
attendance.
Parenting programmes provide parents/carers with an
opportunity to improve their skills in dealing with
the behaviour that puts their child at risk of
offending. They provide parents/carers with one-to-one
advice, as well as practical support in handling the
behaviour of their child, setting appropriate
boundaries and improving communication. By improving
the parenting skills of parents/carers, these
programmes address one of the biggest risks associated
with young people offending.
4. Can anyone refer a
young person to Sheffield YOS?
Anyone can refer a young person to the Prevention Team
at the YOS provided that the young person has not
previously entered the Youth Justice System at a level
above a Final Warning. For details on how to refer to
the Prevention Team please see the Prevention section
of this site. If a young person is known to the YOS at
a level above a Final Warning then the only way they
can be referred to the YOS is by the courts or South
Yorkshire Police; referrals cannot be made by members
of the public.
5. How and why does
Sheffield YOS assess young people?
Research has shown that children and young people who
offend have multiple needs that must be identified and
addressed in order to reduce their risk of offending
or reoffending. Sheffield YOS uses a range of
assessments to identify the needs of young people, the
risk they present to themselves and others, and the
likelihood of them offending or reoffending. The
assessments used by YOSs require them to speak to the
young person, their parents, and other services that
have worked with them or their family, and gather
information about their criminal history (if they have
already offended), education, health, family,
environment and attitudes.
Sheffield YOS uses the information from these
assessments to protect the public and create
programmes of activities for the young person that
address their needs and reduce the likelihood of
offending. The YOS constantly review these assessments
and update them when a young person’s circumstances
change. For young people who have offended, the YOS
uses an assessment called Asset. Asset must be
completed with all young people subject to a Final
Warning, or due to be sentenced to a custodial or
community order. For young people who have been
identified as being at risk of offending, in order to
help prevent them from being drawn into the youth
justice system the YOS uses an assessment called
Onset. More information can be found
here.
6. What service can the
victims of crime expect from Sheffield YOS?
The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime sets out the
minimum level of service victims of crime should
expect from the criminal justice system. To download a
copy of The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime
click
here.
7. What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice is an important part of different
youth justice disposals, from Final Warnings and
Referral Orders to Reparation Orders, Action Plan
Orders and Supervision Orders. The best known and most
commonly used restorative processes are:
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Victim–offender mediation: The victim and offender, helped by an independent person, communicate with one another. This may be by direct meeting or, if preferred by either the victim or the offender, indirectly with the third person acting as ‘go between’ in a ‘shuttle mediation’. Questions may be asked, information exchanged and an agreement reached.
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Restorative conferencing: Supporters, as well as victim and offender, meet together in a conference run by a trained person. At the end, agreements are made that set out what the offender will do to deal with the harm done.
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Family group conferencing: The young person who has offended, with members of his/her extended family, meet with the victim and supporters of the victim and possibly representatives of agencies, e.g. social services and schools. The meeting is run by an independent third person and after all views have been stated, the family have a private meeting time to create a plan, which is then put to the whole conference for acceptance.
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Referral Order Youth Offender Panels: First-time convicted young offenders and parents meet with trained community volunteer panel members to discuss the offence and its consequences and agree a contract to repair the harm and address the causes of offending behaviour. Victims may be invited to attend if they wish, or have their views put before the panel.
8. What is Reparation?
Reparation is a practical way to pay back for the harm
caused by the offence, either by directly repairing
the harm or through constructive work to help the
local community. The victim is usually consulted about
what should be done. Reparation can include:
-
Reparation to the victim. For example, an oral or written apology, or financial or supervised activity-based reparation to the victim.
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Community reparation: Includes a variety of activities to ‘pay back’ benefits to the community, including work similar to community service activity.
