Recent Restorative Justice Legislation

There have been major changes introduced through recent legislation; it aims to put the victim at the centre of the criminal justice system.

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 obliged local authorities to form multi agency Youth Offending Teams to work with young offenders. The agencies include police, probation, health, education and social services. This makes it easier to share information and work more effectively with young people. The aim is to reduce offending by young people. For further information visit the Youth Justice Board website.

 

Partners

UNITE are working in partnership with the South Tees Youth Offending Service to deliver a range of restorative interventions. These include victim contact work, and victim-offender mediation, victim empathy sessions, and schools based work.

Referral Order

Under the Youth Justice & Criminal Evidence Act 1999, all young people who plead guilty to a first offence in court receive a referral order, unless given an absolute discharge, or unless the offence is so serious that a custodial sentence is required.

Once a referral order is made the young person is asked to attend a Youth Offending Panel, which is made up of a youth offending officer from the (YOS) and two volunteers from the local community. The panel, the young person, his/her parents/carers and, if appropriate, the victim, agree a contract lasting between 3 -12 months.

The contract can include programmes to address offending behaviour, and some payback either directly or indirectly, to the victim.

For further information visit the Youth Justice Board website.