The Youth Court - Law, Practice & Procedure Update - Webinar

Introduction

This webinar will update you on the law, practice and procedure in the Youth Court by analysing recent Court of Appeal and High Court decisions. It will also look at the changes brought about by legislation such as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

The Youth Court has its own practices and procedures, and you must be aware of them if you are involved in advising and representing children (aged 10 - 13) and young people (aged 14 - 17) in the criminal justice process.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• The 2023 High Court decision of BH and Norwich Youth Court and the CPS in which the High Court said that the correct procedure had not been followed when dealing with a serious offence
• The amendments to the Law, Practice and Procedure in the Youth Court as a result of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
• The changes as brought about by the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022
• The case of R (on the application BB) and West Glamorgan Youth Court and CPS - the lawfulness of allocating a Youth Court case to the Crown Court as a result of the limited sentencing options available in the Youth Court
• Regina v RB, JS and HG - the correct approach when sentencing children or young people in terms of the percentage reduction in the sentence to reflect the age of the offender
• Committal to the Crown Court for sentence of a child or young person
• The consideration of mandatory minimum sentences in the Youth Court and the amended legal test - the bar has been set that much higher for defence advocates
• The Queen on the application of M v Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court - ‘Merton compliant’ age assessment
• Custodial sentences in the Youth Court under the Sentencing Act 2020
• Referral Orders in the Youth Court under the Sentencing Act 2020
• Community sentences in the Youth Court under the Sentencing Act 2020
• Remands generally