What is a Youth Outcomes Panel?
The Youth Outcomes Panel helps children under 18 who have broken the law. It is made up of:
- North Yorkshire Police
- North Yorkshire Youth Justice Service
- York Youth Justice Service
The panel decides what should happen next for the child and for anyone affected by the crime. They aim to:
- help children understand why they did what they did
- stop children getting into more trouble
- support and encourage restorative approaches with victims
- help children who commit crimes to change their behaviour
What happens next?
If you have broken the law, you might be sent to meet the Youth Outcomes Panel, instead of going to court. A Youth Justice Service officer will:
- get to know you
- talk to your family
- meet your teacher or social worker if you have one
- write a report with you for the panel
This report helps the panel decide what outcome is best for you. They will also talk to your victim to find out how your actions affected them.
What might happen after a Youth Outcomes Panel?
After meeting the panel, you might be given an “Out of Court Disposal”. This means your case is dealt with without going to court. Decisions the panel can make are:
- no further action: the panel decides not to press charges
- drug alcohol referral: you go to a session about drugs or alcohol use
- operation choice referral: you attend a drug education course with the police
- community resolution: you agree to repair the harm caused, usually by doing work with the Youth Justice Service
- Outcome 22: you complete up to 16 or 20 weeks of work with the Youth Justice Service. If you do not finish it, you might get a more serious outcome
- youth caution: a formal warning and voluntary work to help you stay out of trouble
- youth conditional caution: a more serious warning where you must do three to four months’ work with the Youth Justice Service. If you do do not do this, you might have to go to court
- charge: you must go to court
Criminal records and checks
Outcomes from a Youth Outcomes Panel are not convictions and do not give you a criminal record. Informal outcomes do not usually appear on an Enhanced DBS check unless the police think it is relevant.
Formal outcomes, which are the Youth Caution and Youth Conditional Caution, are kept on police records. They might be considered if you go to court again or during an enhanced DBS check.
Information about convictions and cautions
The Youth Justice Legal Centre have free information sheets for children and families. These explain what convictions and cautions mean to you.