Views are being sought on the draft code of practice for youth conditional cautions for 16- and 17-year-olds.
Conditional cautions were introduced in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for adult offenders, and the government is looking to pilot the extension of conditional cautions to 16- and 17-year-olds in 2009.
It will offer an alternative option to court referral in cases where the young offender has either committed an offence that cannot be suitably dealt with using reprimand or warning, or where the offender has already used up the options available under the Reprimand and Warning Scheme.
As specified by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, the code of practice will govern the use of the youth conditional cautions. The consultation results will be published in August 2009.
Closing date: 25 May
