Young people and sentencing
In 2017, the definitive sentencing guideline on sentencing children and young people was published.
Young people aren’t treated the same way by the courts as adults except for the most serious offences.
Offenders aged 10-17 are usually dealt with and sentenced in the youth court except for cases involving very serious offences, such as murder, or where the young person will be tried alongside an adult, which are dealt with and sentenced in the Crown Court.
Factors to consider
When sentencing a young offender, the court considers the main aim of the youth justice system – the prevention of offending by children and young people. It also considers the welfare of the child.
Other things that affect the sentence given to a young person include:
- their age and maturity;
- the seriousness of the offence;
- their family circumstances;
- any previous offending history;
- whether they admitted the offence.
Sentencing Guidelines
Most sentencing guidelines do not cover offenders under the age of 18, as the sentencing framework is noticeably different for them.
For more information on youth justice, visit the Youth Justice Board website.