A decision-making tool for considering the most appropriate outcome or resolution for children who offend.
It is used by police officers, prosecutors and joint decision-making panels to help decide whether and which out of court resolutions should be given to a child.
Most offences are given a score of 1, 2, 3 , 4 or 5 depending on their seriousness. The score may be raised or lowered according to any relevant aggravating, mitigating and vulnerability factors that are set out in the Matrix. This is using the offence-specific factors, General Factor Table and Vulnerability Factor Table.
The Matrix covers the breadth of options available to the decision-maker. It is possible to deviate from the response suggested by the Matrix, and it stresses that it should be used as a "guide only". However, the decision-maker should record the reasons that justify such a deviation.
You can access the Child Gravity Matrix here.