A sentencing option for children who have pleaded guilty to an offence.
A referral order must be imposed on any child with no previous convictions who pleads guilty to any imprisonable offence, unless the court is considering an absolute discharge, conditional discharge, Mental Health Act order or custody.
If the offence is not imprisonable, then a referral order can be given, but if the child has not pleaded guilty to the offence, it is not possible to give them a referral order.
If given a referral order a child is referred to a Youth Offender Panel. The child agrees a contract with the panel. A referral order can be from 3 - 12 months.