What is a Youth Offending Team?
We are a multi-agency team with members of staff from Probation, Police, Social Services and local Health and Education departments.
We also have many specialist workers on the team focusing on issues such as housing, substance use and mental health. Our aim is to work with young people and the local community to reduce offending and to address the causes of offending behaviour.
What is a Referral Order?
A Referral Order is a sentence available to Youth Courts for young offenders convicted for the first time. The Order may last from 3 to 12 months and will address the needs of both the young person and those who have been affected by their actions.
What happens next?
The young person is referred by the Court to a Youth Offender Panel to discuss the offence and to negotiate a contract of work which must be complied with for the length of the Order. Failure to complete the contract will result in the young person being returned to Court.
The Panel will consist of a member of the Youth Offending Team and at least two members from the local community. These volunteer Panel Members come from many different backgrounds and have received in-depth training to help them in this role.
What is the purpose of the Order?
- To enable the young person to take responsibility for their actions and make efforts to put good the harm they have caused (reparation).
- To enable those who have been affected by crime to be involved in the process by expressing their views and having questions answered.
- To identify risk factors and to work alongside the young person and other professionals to ensure the risk of re-offending is reduced.
- To work towards the rehabilitation and reintegration of the young person back into their local community.
How does this affect me?
As the person most affected by this crime, you have the opportunity to take part in this process.
A member of the Youth Offending Team will contact you to support you with making any decisions and giving you information and advice. You can help to decide on the most appropriate way forward, which may involve any or all of the following:-
- Meeting with the young person at the Panel Meeting or subsequent meeting as arranged and supported by the team.
- Expressing your views by statement, letter or video to be shown to the young person by the Panel.
- Receiving a letter of explanation or other form of reparation.
Alternatively, you may not wish to be involved and this is entirely up to you.
What are the benefits?
Until recently victims of crime have been excluded from the criminal justice process. Now, those affected by crime have the opportunity to be heard! You may have been left feeling anxious, angry or upset or just need the chance to air your views and ask questions of the young person involved.
At the Panel Meeting you will be given the chance to discuss the offence and how it has affected you and to put forward ideas as to how the young person may best make amends.
You will be fully supported through this process and we will endeavour to make sure that whatever route you chose to take, many issues will be resolved for you to through your participation.
If you have any questions or would like any further information, please contact:
Bath and North East Somerset
Youth Offending Team
12 Charlotte Street
BATH
BA1 2NE
Tel: 01225 396966
OFFICE HOURS
Monday – Thursday
8.30am – 5.00pm
Friday
8.30am – 4.30pm
THIS INFORMATION CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE IN BRAILLE, ON TAPE AND IN OTHER LANGUAGES, UPON REQUEST
Working in partnership to prevent youth offending