How old is young?
If you're aged 10-17 and have committed an offence, you're a young offender.
Factoid In a youth crime survey the average age at which offending began was 13.5 for boys and 14 for girls Crimereduction.gov.uk, 1999
Do young offenders go to prison?
It's always a last resort. The main custodial (prison) sentence for 12 to 17-year olds is the Detention and Training Order, which lasts from four months to two years. It combines time in prison with time under supervision in the community.
And if not prison?
- If it's a first court trial and you plead guilty, you could be given a Referral Order, where you have to meet with a panel to agree a contract to repair any harm done and stop you doing it again.
- There's also community service, especially if you're 16 or 17. This could be anything from picking up litter to cleaning grafitti off a wall.
- And then there's the ASBO, the Anti-Social Behaviour Order…
Anti-Social Behaviour
- Anti-social behaviour includes vandalism, graffiti and intimidation.
- The first step, if you're an anti-social offender, is an Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC): a voluntary signed agreement ('voluntary' meaning it's not given out by the courts and you won't get a criminal record). By signing the agreement, you agree to stop the anti-social behaviour.
- If you've committed a number of anti-social behaviour offences, you could get an ASBO. This is a court order that can stop you going to a certain area or spending time with certain people. If you get an ASBO you won't get a criminal record unless you're found guilty of breaking the order.
I want to break free…
If you've been in trouble with the law but want to get back on the straight and narrow, it can be difficult. Being tempted back into crime, not being able to get a job, not having enough money, family problems and staying away from drink and drugs are some of the problems people fresh out of prison can face. There are several projects and initiatives to help ex-offenders, all of which are summarised at Rizer.co.uk and TheSite.org, links below.
Written by Ali Cronin
Last updated 17th June 2007
Further help and advice
- Rizer: info and advice for young people about going straight.
- Rainer: the national charity for under-supported young people.
- Directgov: info for young offenders in England and Wales.
- Criminal Justice System: loads of info for young offenders.
- TheSite.org: Breaking Free from Crime.
Disclaimer: Thee BBC cannot be held responsible for the content of external websites
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Sarah , 24
I am a student studying youth and community work and i think ASBOs are utterly rediculous. If more money was put into Youth work courses and full and part time youth and community workers, there would be a lot less need for these stupid ASBOs. I am in the second year of my course and the young people i have met on placement who have been given an ASBO have said if there were more people like us and less people who think they are going cause trouble or dont understand them then there would be no need for being given ASBOs. Young people need to be talked to like human beings just as much as the older generation do. If there was more money put into youth work and community work then there would be enough money for providing young people with the means for them not to be bored. When i was young i was very lucky i was bought up in a middle class environment and i had places to go, some people dont have this privildge so i think it is essential for young people to be given the opportunities i had when i was younger!!!!
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