Court of Appeal judgment on sentencing children affected by mental health conditions
This Court of Appeal judgment clarified how and when mental health conditions can affect sentencing children.
Youth Justice Law in England and Wales
Providing legal knowledge and expertise about children’s rights in the criminal justice system.
A-Z guides
Abuse of Process
Age Assessment
Appropriate Adult
Bail
Certificate for Assigned Advocate (Certificate for Counsel)
Effective Participation
Fitness to Plead
Joint Enterprise
Youth Sentences
View all guides
Featured Post
Latest Updates
Court of Appeal judgment on sentencing children using adult guidelines
The Court of Appeal clarified the correct approach to calculating a custodial sentence when sentencing children and young people, where regard is to be had to adult sentencing guidelines.
Court of Appeal judgment on reducing sentence following a late stage guilty plea
R v Reid Yaanan Gabriel Raphael, Shannon Louise Roberts [2019] EWCA Crim 2346 The Court of Appeal clarified the correct approach to reducing a sentence following a guilty plea and Newton hearing. Details The two appellants, aged 19 and 21, pleaded guilty to two offences; conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to carry an imitation firearm […]
Court of Appeal judgment on mitigating factors in modern slavery offences
The Court of Appeal reduced a 21 year old’s sentence for county lines drug offences and offences under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 on the grounds of his youth and lack of similar convictions.
Court of Appeal judgment on intermediaries
The appellant had his conviction overturned as a result of not having been given the benefit of an intermediary throughout his trial.
Court of Appeal judgment on deeming children dangerous
The appellant’s extended determinate sentence was quashed following a finding that the trial judge did not take into account his age or maturity in the context of assessing dangerousness.
Youth offending services inspected
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMI Probation) have investigated on the general quality of Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) across England and Wales for the year 2018/2019.
County Lines Exploitation Practice Guidance
The Ministry of Justice have published a practice guide providing referral pathways for practitioners, particularly for Youth Offending Teams, when responding to and safeguarding children involved in county lines.
Supreme Court judgment on parental responsibility and consenting to deprivation of a child’s liberty
The UK Supreme Court examined whether it is within the scope of parental responsibility to consent to living arrangements for a 16-17 year old child that would amount to a deprivation of liberty under article 5 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
