In Court

If you are under 18, you will appear in a Youth Court, unless you are jointly accused of an offence with an adult, in which case you will go to the magistrates court.

If you are under 18 and if it is the first time you have been prosecuted and you are pleading guilty or are found guilty, you will be given a referral order, unless it is a minor motoring offence, you are given an absolute discharge or you are sent to prison.

A referral order is where a panel of people from your own community decide how you should make amends for your offence. If you complete the order it will not be counted as a conviction against you. Provided you stay out of trouble, you will be able to tell an employer that you have no convictions. If you do not co-operate and you are re-sentenced, it will become a conviction that you must tell your employers about.

If you are 18 or over, your case will start off in a Magistrates Court. It may be heard fully here or you may be sent to the Crown Court for trial or sentencing. The court may ask for pre sentence reports to be made. A Social Worker or Probation Officer will talk to you and it may help your case if you help him/her as much as you can.