Young Adults in The System

YOUTH Justice

United Youth Voice Initiative by Kulturalism

Being arrested or charged is overwhelming for individuals and families alike. Most people enter the system with little understanding of their rights or what happens next.This pathway breaks down each stage of the criminal justice process.

Rights Every Young Person Has

Automatic right to a free solicitor (police must offer it every time)
Right to an Appropriate Adult in every interview
Right to be treated fairly no matter your race, gender, disability, or background
Right to an interpreter or intermediary if you need one
Right to Section 45 (your name and details kept private by the court in most cases)

Your name & identity are strongly protected

Under Section 45 (Youth Justice Act) the media can never publish your name, photo, or school if you are under 18 and charged — this is automatic and only lifted in very rare serious cases.

Under Section 39 (1933 Act) Children and Young Persons Act, the court almost always adds an extra order protecting any young person involved (victims, witnesses, siblings) from being identified.

Together these keep nearly all under-18s completely private.
→ Official guidance: gov.uk/guidance/reporting-restrictions-children-proceedings

Modern Slavery Act defence (Section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015). If it is accepted, you will not be convicted.

Police, your solicitor, and the Youth Offending Team must look for signs of exploitation and get you help instead of punishment.
→ More help: gov.uk/modern-slavery-victims

Crime, Police & Charge

Arrested

What Happens

Age of Criminal Responsibility in the UK. Police can arrest a young person aged 10–17 if they suspect involvement in a crime.

What you can expect

They must be taken to a police station
They must be kept in a separate area from adults
An Appropriate Adult must be providedThe parent or carer must be contacted
The child has the right to free legal advice

Your rights

→ Free solicitor
→ An Appropriate Adult present for interview
→ Medical and welfare checks
→ No questioning until safeguards are in place

United Youth Voice Initiative by Kulturalism

Police Interviews

What Happens Next

No interview can start until your solicitor and Appropriate Adult are with you

Possible outcomes
→ No further action
→ Youth caution / conditional caution
→ Community resolution (informal apology or repair)
→ Released under investigation or on bail
→ Charged and sent to court

→ No further action

What you can expect
→ Updates from police
→ Safeguarding assessments
→ Risk checks

United Youth Voice Initiative by Kulturalism

Youth Cautions

Low Level Offences

For low-level offences, police may avoid court.

Options include:
→ Community resolution
→ Youth caution
→ Youth conditional caution

Important
These still count as part of a criminal record, but are usually spent quickly.

United Youth Voice Initiative by Kulturalism

Youth Court, Sentencing & Custody

Youth Court

If the case goes to court

Youth Court is different from adult court
→ No public gallery
→ More privacy

→ Everyone wears normal clothes
→ Specially trained magistrates
→ Focus is on helping you, not just punishing

What happens in Youth Court
→ The case is read out
→ Young person enters a plea
→ Evidence is considered
→ Decision is made

Rights at this stage
→ Legal representation
→ Quiet/private room if overwhelmed
→ Appropriate Adult present
→ Special measures where needed

You will always have

A free lawyer
An Appropriate Adult with you
Special measures (screens, video link, breaks) if you need them

United Youth Voice Initiative by Kulturalism

Sentencing

Rehabilitation, not punishment

Possible outcomes

→ Referral Order
→ Youth Rehabilitation Order
→ Reparation
→ Curfew
→ Fines (parents may be responsible)
→ Custody (YOI or secure home) — usually only for serious or repeated offences

What to expect

Youth Offending Team (YOT) involvement
Plans aimed at behaviour change
Support with education, training, mental health, & risk
Regular reviews and check-ins

United Youth Voice Initiative by Kulturalism

Youth Custody

If a child receives custody

What happens next
→ They are taken to a Youth Offender Institution (15–17) or Secure Children’s Home (under 15)
→ An induction and welfare check is carried out
→ Education continues
→ Family contact is arranged

→Regular phone calls and visits with family

Important considerations
→ Children are entitled to education
→ Children must be kept separate from adult prisoners
→ Children must have regular welfare checks
→ Visits should be supported

United Youth Voice Initiative by Kulturalism

Kyle

A 20-year-old lad from Doncaster. Warehouse job. Sunday dinners at his mum's. A girlfriend he was proud to spoil.

All it took was one small offer: "£100 a week… nothing heavy."

Prison and Proseco: Kyle's Story follows an ordinary young man as he quietly slides into county lines. Written as fiction. Based on the very real patterns that pull thousands of normal young people in every year. Funny in places. Devastating in others. Sometimes both in the same sentence. This is the handbook parents & teenagers, need.

View in Shop — £4.99