Youth Offending Team

The Youth Offending Team [YOT] is a multi-agency group consisting of Social Workers, Probation Officers, Police Officers and staff with health and education backgrounds.

The YOT provides a range of services required by legislation to deal speedily and effectively with young people aged 10-18 who get into trouble. The Team is overseen by a multi-agency Steering Group Chaired by Milton Keynes Council's Director of the Children and Young People's Service but also reports to the National Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.

The Team works closely with the Criminal Courts and a range of crime and disorder and children's services.

The principal aim of the youth justice system is to prevent offending by children and young people and the YOT is at the forefront of local efforts to fulfil this aspiration.

The YOT is responsible for a wide range of interventions including:

Referral Orders:-
Since April 2002 a Referral Order has been available to the courts, changing the way in which first time young offenders are dealt with. Referral Orders will be given to most 10 to 17-year olds pleading guilty and being convicted for the first time in Court.

Action Plan Orders:-
A community based penalty (i.e. non custodial) for three months requiring the defendant to participate in specific activities named in the order aimed at preventing further offending.

Final Warning / Pre Court Procedures:-
A police disposal which is given instead of sending someone to court. It involves an assessment by the Youth Offending Team and where necessary a brief programme of interventions to prevent further offending.

Reparation Orders:-
An order of up to three months which requires the defendant to make reparation either directly to the victim or to the community at large. This is supervised by the Youth Offending Team.

Parenting Orders:-
An order that requires parents to participate in parent classes or receive other forms of support. This may also require parents to do certain things e.g. take the child to school. A parenting order can be made when a young person is convicted of a criminal offence or receives an Antisocial Behaviour Order and in cases of non school attendance.

Community Rehabilitation Order/Probation Order:-
A Community Rehabilitation Order was previously a Probation Order and it is a Court Order, which is made to help you to avoid further offending. It can last up to three years.

Supervision Orders:-
A Supervision Order is a sentence which requires you to be supervised by a member of the Youth Offending Team. Once the order has been made your co-operation and the support of your family are essential if it is to be of use to you.

Implementation of orders:-
An order is made by the Courts when someone is found guilty of an offence. It details what punishment people must receive for their offences.

A community sentence, or a non-custodial sentence, means that people serve their punishment in the community.
The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales is a non-departmental public body. The aim of the Youth Justice Board is to prevent offending by children and young people.

When young people first get into trouble, behave anti-socially or commit minor offences, they can be dealt with outside of the court system. If children are behaving anti-socially, the police and local authority can use a variety of pre-court orders including:

• Acceptable Behaviour Contracts
• Anti-Social Behaviour Orders
• Local Child Curfews
• Child Safety Orders

If  they have committed a first or second minor offence, a system of Reprimands and Final Warnings can be used by the police.
The purpose of these pre-court orders is to stop young people getting sucked into The Youth Justice System too early, whilst still offering them the help and support they need to stop offending.

The Youth Justice Board website shows how the Youth Justice System works, what and who is involved.

Alternatively, there is a Referral Orders and Youth Offender Panels - Guidance for Courts, Youth Offending Teams and Youth Offender Panels document available to view on the Home Office website.

To contact the Youth Offending Team telephone 01908 391000.

Contact the Youth Offending Team