Help for victims of youth crime
If you are a victim of crime caused by a young offender, you should contact the Police on 0845 60 70 999.
The Police can give you information about getting help through the organisation Victim Support.
Victim Support provide a free confidential service for victims of crime.
Tel: 0845 303 0900 or visit the Victim Support website.
Victim Liaison Officer
East Sussex Youth Offending Team (YOT) has an experienced Victim Liaison Officer who is trained in victim awareness and counselling. The officer is able to explain the criminal justice process such as sentences and how the courts work, together with practical help and advice and assess the risks of being re-affected by crime.
What is Victim-Offender Mediation?
One way in which a young person might make amends for their offending behaviour is by meeting with their victim, a process known as Victim-Offender Mediation.
A trained facilitator will bring together the offender and victim to discuss what happened. The young person and their victim are given an opportunity to talk about the events surrounding the crime and how it has affected their lives. Sometimes a plan is agreed to address the harm caused by the crime. Often both parties are able to gain a greater sense of closure simply through the process of talking with one another.
Youth Offender Panel
If a young person pleads guilty to an offence and is sentenced at Court for the first time they are usually given a referral order.
Once a referral order is made, the young person is required to attend a Youth Offender Panel. This includes two trained volunteers from the community and a member of the Youth Offending Team.
A 3–12 month contract is then drawn up, in consultation with the young person, their parent/carer and the victim (where appropriate). The conviction is spent once the contract has been completed.
The aim of the contract is to ensure the young offender can make amends for the crime they have committed. It is usually drawn up in agreement with the young person to ensure they take responsibility for their behaviour and to help put things right for the victim.
The victim will normally be invited to attend in person and can bring someone with them to provide moral support. If they don’t want to do this, they can ask for their views to be taken into account or be represented by someone else at the panel meeting.
Witnesses
Witnesses play a vital part in society by helping to solve crime and stop injustice taking place. Going to court can be a scary and confusing experience.
If you are a prosecution witness, you will be asked questions by the prosecution team first. The defence will then ask you questions in what is known as a cross-examination.
The judge or magistrate may also ask questions. If you are in a Crown Court there will be one judge and a jury. The judge and the lawyers will usually wear wigs and gowns. Court officials will be wearing black gowns too.
If you are in a magistrates' court, there will not be a jury. Instead there will either be three magistrates, or one magistrate who is a qualified lawyer.
