Youth Justice: Referral orders set for improvements

Referral Orders - Priorities for Action sets out proposed priorities for change in a number of areas including providing improved guidance, training and support for both volunteers and youth offending team workers and raising the public's awareness of restorative justice and how it works. Referral orders are given to 10- to 17-year olds who are in court for the first time and who plead guilty. They involve the use of restorative justice practices through youth offender panels.

Roger Cullen, senior policy adviser at the YJB, said the consultation aimed to improve referral orders before the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill becomes law. "We're aware that the referral order will be the key disposal for young people who are in court for the first time," he said. "We've outlined our ideas about how we can move things forward but we want to hear from people in the field."

The consultation ends on 21 December.

- www.yjb.gov.uk.