The youth justice system

Find out the main stages in the youth justice system and the decisions made.

The law is a set of rules that must be followed to keep people safe and protect people’s property. If you’re a child aged 10 to 17 years old and are suspected or guilty of breaking the law, you may come into contact with the youth justice system. 

Breaking the law is also known as ‘offending’ or ‘committing a crime’.

The main aim of the youth justice system is to prevent children from offending.

Know your rights at all stages

Youth justice journey map

Key:

Stage

Decision

Decision: Out of court disposal

Stage: Police

Decision: Release or
no further action

Decision: Charge

Decision: Bail or remand

Decision: Discharge or fine

Stage: Court

Decision: Not guilty
or no further action

Decision: Community or custodial sentence

Stage: Custody

Stage: Community
order

Stage: Release and resettlement (or transition to adult custody)

Text description of the journey map

Stage: Police

Police decisions:

• out of court disposal
• release or no further action
• charge:
  • bail or remand (moves to court stage)

Stage: Court

Court decisions:

• discharge or fine
• not guilty or no further action
• back to bail or remand to return to court again
• community or custodial sentence (moves to either custody or community order stage)

Stage: Custody

Moves onto release and resettlement (or transition into adult custody) stage and then the journey ends.

Stage: Community order

Journey ends.