Plans to extend conditional cautions to under-18s were outlined last week in a government publication, Delivering Simple, Speedy, Summary Justice.
At the moment conditional cautions can only be given to adults. When an offender admits guilt for a minor crime, the police can give them a caution dependent on them making amends, or taking action to deal with problems that may have contributed to their offending.
If the offender fails to comply with the conditions of their caution, they can be prosecuted for the original offence.
Matt Foot, founder of ASBO Concern and a criminal defence solicitor, said: "You give people a difficult option of whether they go to court. It is open to abuse."
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