Lucy explores how a young person can find themselves in the adult court. Our criminal team specialise in looking after children and young people.

The Youth Court offers safeguards to those who enter the criminal justice system under the age of 18. They are specially designed to make it easier for children to understand what is happening and feel less intimidated. They are able to sit with their parent or supporting adult and are sentenced in a way that has their welfare and rehabilitation as the focus.

However, the child’s age at the time of the offence is not the crucial date, it is the date when they are charged with the offence. If this decision is made after their 18th birthday the case will be heard in the adult courts, regardless of when the offence is said to have been committed. This means the young person will be sentenced as an adult although they will get a reduction for their age.