Case management guidance

The pre-sentence report (PSR) is a written report produced and submitted to the court by the youth justice service (YJS). Its purpose is to assist the court to determine the most appropriate outcome for the child. Sentencing starts with the principle of proportionality, meaning the sentence should be commensurate with the seriousness of the offence, and may then take into account the child鈥檚 status and vulnerability.

Section 30 of the Sentencing Act 2020 contains the legislative provisions to produce a PSR. The PSR should assist the court to understand the circumstances of the offence; and any aggravating or mitigating factors to consider in the sentencing decision. A PSR is always required when a custodial sentence is under consideration and for community sentences which require YJS supervision, to explain the suitability of the order (for the child) and any conditions which may be attached.

When the court requests a PSR it will give a non-binding indication of the seriousness of the offence and the range of sentences or requirements it wishes to consider. In circumstances where the court requests an 鈥榓ll options鈥� PSR, YJS court duty staff should ask the court to clarify their view of seriousness, which means clarifying whether custody is under consideration or not.

The PSR contains information on:

the child鈥檚 background and circumstances (the court is obliged to consider their welfare in determining the sentencing outcome)
previous convictions
responses to previous penalties imposed by the court
aggravating and mitigating factors
public protection concerns
concerns about the safety and well-being of the child.
positive factors, including information about any agencies involved with the child and how they can support the child鈥檚 safety and well-being and public protection

The report should conclude with an explanation of the options available and a clear single sentencing proposal for the court to consider.

The court may also request that a 鈥榙angerousness assessment鈥� is undertaken if it considers there is 鈥榓 significant risk of serious harm to the public or the commission of further offences鈥� (as set out in schedule 15 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003). For further information see what to consider in an assessment of dangerousness in a pre-sentence report.

You should present pre-sentence reports (PSRs) formally; paginated and with numbered paragraphs using the following standard format:

front sheet
sources of information
assessment of the child
analysis of the offence
factors which will support positive outcomes for the child and promote public safety
assessment of the need for parenting support including suitability for a Parenting Order
conclusion and proposal for sentencing

Pre-sentence reports must be clear and concise and not exceed the equivalent of four pages/eight sides. Exceptions to this would be if the case is very complex involving multiple offences or very serious (and possibly high profile). This is to assist sentencers to absorb the information presented to be able to make an informed decision and to determine an appropriate outcome. Overly detailed and irrelevant information may detract from key points and important information may be missed.

You should be aware that there is a disproportionate number of children from some groups in the justice system, including Black children, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and children looked-after. Statistics also show that children from these groups can receive more punitive outcomes. When preparing a PSR, you may wish to include data on the current levels of over representation in your area to remind sentencers about unconscious bias in sentencing.

The introduction to the report should contain the authority to produce the PSR, the court that requested it and the date of the request. It should also indicate the status of the child e.g. following a guilty plea or trial; at a first or subsequent court hearing; and whether the child is bailed or remanded.

You should:

state that the PSR is based on an AssetPlus assessment
state the quality assurance process it was subject to prior to submission to the court
confirm that it has been discussed with the child and parent or carer
confirm that the child and parent or carer is aware of and understand its contents as well as any plan that has been jointly drawn up with them

You should be aware of the local arrangements for (digitally) distributing PSRs and ensuring timely circulation to the court.

The purpose of the pre-sentence report is to obtain enough information from the child (and their parents or carers) and other sources to produce a high-quality document for the court to understand the child and the factors affecting them; and to help it to decide on an appropriate outcome. The information will largely be obtained from an AssetPlus assessment.

You should determine how many times you need to meet with the child to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of them and their circumstances. You should also speak to the parents or carers (with the child and separately) to gain as a full a picture as possible of home and family life. This should include a home visit to gain a sense of the environment in which the child is living.

Children and their parents or carers should understand the purpose of your meeting with them (you can write to them in advance setting this out); what information you require; how it will be used and what will happen to the report once completed. You should verify what information you can, particularly around education and any experiences of engagement with health or other services. Children (and their parents or carers) should be provided with a copy of the report on completion.

Before the meeting you should read the case summary and highlight the key facts and queries you want to raise with the child and their parents or carers. If the child has previously been involved with the youth justice service (YJS), you should review their record as it will assist you to identify if there have been any significant changes since the last assessment which may have contributed to the current situation.

The purpose of the interview is to gather information that gives a clear view of the child and their circumstances, so it is important to reduce any obstacles to engagement. Children facing court proceedings are likely to feel distressed, anxious and uncomfortable (as are their families), especially if appearing for the first time and irrespective of previous appearances and outcomes. Children who have had negative experiences of the youth justice system or are distrustful of authority figures may take time to engage and share their experiences. There can be a lack of trust in the justice system from some communities, so it is especially important when working with children from over-represented groups to take a friendly approach and put children at their ease.

Many children in the justice system have experienced trauma, have difficulty in forming attachments with others and may find it difficult to discuss their experiences. They may have undiagnosed learning difficulties or disabilities and experience problems in expressing themselves. You should encourage and support communication; and not assume the child is being uncommunicative or obstructive if they are having difficulty with anything you are asking them. If it is the first time of meeting, you can break the ice with questions about neutral topics 鈥� it should feel more like a conversation than an interview. If they are finding the process intrusive or don鈥檛 want to share their thoughts or feelings, change the subject and provide them with opportunities to say what is bothering them. However, you should also be prepared for guarded or aggressive responses to questioning, accept the resistance, change topic and give the child opportunities to express their feelings throughout the process.

Some points to consider when engaging with the child are:

Choose a location where the child feels safe and comfortable, away from distractions. Do they feel safe attending a YJS office?
Timekeeping is an important indication of respect. If you are unavoidably late, apologise and explain why.
Treat them with respect throughout and show genuine concern and interest.
Be aware of your body language, communicate interest, sympathy and respect and have eye contact.
Use an informal and relaxed approach to put them at their ease and to encourage them to tell you about themselves.
The approach you decide to take should always be appropriate, sensitive to the child, consider speech, language and communication needs, learning ability and ability to engage and comprehend generally.
Observe how they may respond to questions asked e.g. not knowing the answer and feeling confident to say so rather than saying what they think you want to hear.
Encourage children to give you their account of the offence, why they committed it and their attitude to what happened.
Ask them about their interests, activities they engage in and their hopes and aspirations.
Ask for their opinion about how they could address what has happened and move forward, including any reparation.
If there is a victim, considering whether direct or indirect reparation would be meaningful for them.
Explore any other issues which may impact on the suitability of the type of order, requirements under consideration or the proposed supervision plan, such as their education, health, religious observance or other commitments.

There are a range of techniques available which can assist you. 鈥楽ocratic questioning鈥� where you ask 鈥� the 鈥榳hen鈥�, 鈥榳here鈥�, 鈥榳ho鈥� and 鈥榳hy鈥� to encourage the child to express themselves. Another technique is the 鈥楥olumbo technique鈥� where you place the child in the position of being the expert in their own experiences. You do this by asking a question like, 鈥渃an you help me to understand why鈥︹€�. By communicating genuine interest in the responses and a sense of curiosity in the answers, you can encourage a more full and honest disclosure and account of their experiences. This might be a good technique to use when their version of events relating to the offence differs from that of the official account. The approach you decide to take should always be appropriate, sensitive to the child, consider speech, language and communication needs, learning ability and ability to engage and comprehend generally.

The aim of this section is to provide information on the child; their family, personal and social circumstances and how they relate to their behaviour. This will be based substantially on the AssetPlus assessment. It is helpful to produce this section first before moving on to the offence analysis, as it helps the court to understand the child鈥檚 circumstances.

The content of this section should focus on relevant and significant factors as they relate to the matters before the court. The section should provide information about reasons for the child鈥檚 behaviour rooted in their background and life experiences. When determining the relevance of information for this section, you should ensure that what is included is pertinent and focused and the information provided contributes to an understanding of the child and their behaviour. It should be mitigating and present an objective picture of the child.

The court is obliged to consider the welfare of the child in the sentencing process. You should ensure that you produce a report which provides sufficient information about:

their status
aspirations in relation to education; training and employment
their living arrangements (whether at home or elsewhere)
the nature of their relationship within the household (supportive or otherwise); and inclusion of any information relating to the family situation and circumstances (tensions, estrangements etc) including concerns about failure to identify concerns earlier
health needs
the family鈥檚 financial situation, given that courts are also required to consider compensation

Past or current involvement with children鈥檚 services should be discussed as well as the possible impact of trauma because of experiences of abuse, neglect or dysfunctional family life on the child鈥檚 behaviour. You should also consider contextual safeguarding issues and factors in the child鈥檚 associates or environment placing them at risk of exploitation into criminal activity.

If necessary, the court has the power to ask local authorities to carry out investigations into child defendants under the . This is rarely used, because children鈥檚 needs are assessed as a core part of the pre-sentence report (PSR). However, if you experience any difficulty in obtaining information from children鈥檚 services, the court can use this power to ensure information is presented.

There should be an explanation of how the child spends their leisure time; who they associate with, activities they engage in, and any future goals and aspirations. It may also be relevant to discuss their physical and/or emotional maturity as poor health, physical and emotional difficulties and disabilities could all impact on the type of activities and interventions which might be proposed in the PSR.

Consideration should also be given to the child鈥檚 response to any previous disposals, highlighting motivation and engagement, and contextualising any failures of the youth justice service (YJS) to engage them. This section should also include an assessment of how the child鈥檚 parents/carers have responded to their behaviour and whether, and to what extent, they can support and facilitate the child鈥檚 engagement with the order.

As the court may also be considering the potential for a parenting order, report authors should assess whether any assistance with parenting support is required and how this might be provided on a voluntary basis.

Contextual safeguarding issues should always be considered, particularly as information about the child may be held elsewhere but could be relevant. This may include:

affiliation to gangs, or geographical or territorial areas which might cause conflict with others or restrict the venues available for interventions
concerns about potential conflicts with other children known to the YJS
attitudes, behaviours or choices which may impact on safety

You should check whether the child has been subject to a social care assessment. If subject to child protection arrangements, you should obtain a copy of the assessment and refer to it in the PSR. Within this section you can also refer to any additional specialist assessments which have been undertaken. You should mention them, integrate key information into the body of the PSR and make the specialist report available at the court鈥檚 request.

The aim of the offence analysis is to outline the facts surrounding the offence as accepted by the court at the point of conviction. It should compare to the child鈥檚 account, highlighting any differences in their account from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advance disclosure information. If the analysis covers more than one offence, pre-sentence report (PSR) authors should cover the most serious offence first, unless a chronological account is necessary to understand events.

The purpose of the offence analysis is to:

provide the court with an understanding of why the child committed the offence (it should not simply repeat the CPS version of events)
provide an independent assessment of the seriousness of the offence (weighing up aggravating and mitigating factors)
give the 鈥榖asis of plea鈥� i.e. what are the relevant facts underpinning the conviction, accepted by both prosecution and defence
help the sentencer to understand the impact of the offence on the victim and whether any form of restorative activity is appropriate
note whether the child is looked after and, if they are, to consider whether, by being charged, they are treated more punitively for this behaviour than a child who lives with family

This section analyses:

the context in which the offence occurred including the immediate circumstances
any aggravating or mitigating factors, including whether the offence was committed on bail or whilst the child was already on a court order
the extent to which the child鈥檚 actions may be as a result of being exploited into criminal behaviour by others
whether their actions were planned or impulsive
an assessment of the child鈥檚 culpability, with reference to their emotional health and well-being and level of maturity
adverse childhood experiences and how the impact of trauma has influenced the child鈥檚 behaviour
learning difficulties; maturity and ability to understand the seriousness of their actions and the consequences
whether and how the offence fits in with a wider pattern, or if not, stating that it is a one off or a first offence
the impact on the victim/s and the child鈥檚 understanding of this
attitude to the victim, to the offence and its consequences
indications of remorse and regret; and desire to make amends
an assessment of the child鈥檚 motivation (with specific reference to any discriminatory views which are significant to the offence)
any other information which is directly relevant to explaining the offence and forming a view about its seriousness such as being under the influence of substances, mental and/or emotional ill health, peer influences and family and other difficulties

The view of the victim in relation to the offence regarding any restorative activity (including what this might look like) should be included to assist in the sentencing decision.

When considering diversity, it is helpful to think of the needs of children who have protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. Protected characteristics are race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religion and belief, age, marriage and civil partnership, gender re-assignment, pregnancy and maternity. Many children in the justice system may present with multiple protected characteristics. Having regard to protected characteristics means not discriminating against, harassing or victimising another person because they have or are perceived to have protected characteristics or are associated with someone who has, through either direct or indirect discrimination.

You have a responsibility to always treat children with fairness, dignity and respect, including in the preparation and content of reports. Interviews with children and their parents or carers must be sensitive to factors of difference, and you must take all reasonable steps to ensure that these are respected, including arranging for translation services where necessary.

refers to avoiding discrimination on the grounds of race, sex or any other improper ground in the administration of justice. Despite this, those from ethnic minority groups are over-represented at all stages of the criminal justice system. Children with Black, Asian and Mixed ethnicity as well as those from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are overrepresented in the justice system. Unhelpful narratives about these children and other disadvantaged groups support racial and other stereotypes, whilst often missing key factors in their lives which make them vulnerable to the exploitation of others. For instance, Patrick Williams鈥檚 research work on the identified how negative labelling of children from Black backgrounds can prevent them being perceived as victims.

Report authors should take conscious steps to ensure that reports are free from discrimination. Descriptions of individuals and their circumstances should not contain cultural or racial stereotypes. Every effort should be made to ensure that ethnicity is appropriately referenced and not presented in a way that might adversely impact on the outcomes for the individual; and that vulnerabilities are not presented as increasing risk of reoffending.

Race must not be ignored. It should be put into the context of the child鈥檚 experience, including incidences of racism or a sense of injustice in relation to issues such as school exclusion or a perception of being targeted by the police. There is evidence that Black and Mixed ethnicity children can have less trust in 鈥榮ystems鈥� including the criminal justice system therefore additional work should be undertaken with children from these communities to ensure that they understand process and outcomes, and that their experiences are understood.

It is also important that the rationale and reasoning behind racially motivated offending is explored, understood and contextualised.

Girls in the youth justice system are in the minority. They can experience discrimination through stereotyping, sexist attitudes and inequality of opportunity, for instance if they have caring responsibilities for others. Notions of femininity may lead to certain views about their behaviour, experience of abuse and trauma can manifest in different ways from boys and different interventions may be appropriate to meet the needs of girls. Many girls in the justice system have been victims of abuse, violence and exploitation, including in the context of the offence which has brought them before the court. This needs thorough exploration within the report.

Faith, religion and belief may also be relevant when assessing the child鈥檚 circumstances and family life. Religious observance should always be accommodated when proposing and planning interventions with the child and their family. The support of faith and community groups should be explored depending on the nature of the offence and the needs of the child.

The requirements of children with disabilities should also be considered. The use of specialist assessments and contact with organisations and agencies who are working with the child may be able to provide informed information about their abilities.

The impact of physical or mental health; educational needs; speech, language and communication problems may all impact on the type of intervention the child can undertake and may be under-diagnosed in some ethnic groups. Additionally, the impact of trauma and difficulties with attachment may not immediately be apparent but may be contributing to the way in which the child is behaving and influence the way in which they are worked with. This is likely to be very relevant to children who have had experience of being looked after. You should be aware of 鈥榠nvisible鈥� disabilities, such as mental health problems or learning disabilities, and ensure that assessments are thorough and well researched.

Adolescence is a time of emerging sexuality and coming to terms with sexuality. Sexual norms can vary considerably from person to person and need to be treated with respect and sensitivity. Children may not feel comfortable talking about this aspect of their lives, may not have fully come to terms with what it means and may need support in exploring their own identity. This may make them feel vulnerable, unsafe and anxious.

This section should logically flow from the preceding information (offence analysis and assessment of the child), be congruent with the AssetPlus assessment and provide an overview of the risk to the community. It includes the following assessments:

factors supporting positive outcomes, leading to desistance
public safety considerations
risks to the child鈥檚 safety or wellbeing

When considering the likelihood of reoffending, you should consider the probability of serious harm which is defined as 鈥榙eath or serious personal injury whether physical or psychological鈥�. Risk of serious harm is the likelihood and imminence of this happening, and the impact if it did.

The likelihood of reoffending is based on the AssetPlus assessment. You should provide a clearly informed view of the:

likelihood of the child committing further offences
nature, degree and imminence of this occurring
positive factors which, if built upon, could support desistance

This requires professional judgement, assessing all the information gathered and locating it in the context of what interventions might be effective in achieving positive child outcomes, leading to reduced likelihood of offending. You should distinguish between the:

likelihood of reoffending
seriousness of future potential offending behaviour

Whilst there may be a strong possibility of further offending, it does not necessarily follow that this will pose a direct threat of serious harm. The definition of serious harm is intended to apply to very specific circumstances where the offence warrants a custodial sentence to protect the public from death or physical injury.

Assessments should take account of positive progress being made by the child, and the reasons for this. Explanations should be unbiased, objective and not use language which unnecessarily inflates risk or negatively stereotypes the child. Evidence shows that children with Black, Asian or Mixed ethnicity can be perceived as more likely to reoffend than White children with a similar profile, and as a result become subject to a more punitive intervention than is warranted. Girls who commit certain types of offences (e.g. violence and aggression) may be viewed as a more serious risk than is warranted, because this is not regarded as normal for girls. In assessing risk of harm, you should consider the response to it and how community sentences can meet particular needs and what support cultural, and sex specific organisations and resources could provide.

The report should consider the types of intervention and support which will contribute to positive outcomes for the child and increase motivation and engagement.

You should consider the positive factors in the child鈥檚 life and their views of what would help them. A balanced judgement needs to be made about how supportive and positive factors offset some of the more negative considerations and concerns, when concluding how to manage public protection.

You must clearly evidence conclusions about public safety. Patterns of potentially harmful behaviour and their impact must be balanced with contextual information which helps to provide an understanding of the risks presented and the triggers and situations in which they are likely to arise (who, what, when, where and how) and how the child can be supported to a more positive life.

A further consideration in this section (unless it has been specifically included within the 鈥榓ssessment of the child鈥� section of the pre-sentence report), is the safety and wellbeing of the child. This is undertaken to consider the:

impact of the sentence on them
type of support and assistance to include in their intervention plan
negative impact of custodial sentences in particular
actions or omissions of others which may affect the child鈥檚 safety

An assessment of risk to the child should discuss:

their emotional and mental health and well-being
evidence of self-harming or suicidal thoughts or actions
any risk-taking behaviour which might lead to harm

If a child is convicted of a specified offence (these are set out in and the court considers there is 鈥榓 significant risk of serious harm to the public or the commission of further offences鈥�, it must consider whether dangerousness is involved and specifically ask the youth justice service (YJS) to undertake an assessment for this purpose. Serious harm is defined as 鈥榙eath or serious personal injury whether physical or psychological鈥�.

A dangerousness assessment should only be used in cases where a court has made an assessment of dangerousness in accordance with the definitions given in the Act. It should not be used to refer to children who may be assessed by a YJS as presenting a risk of serious harm to others but who have not committed specified offences listed in or to those who have committed such offences but a court has determined they do not meet the threshold of posing a significant risk to members of the public. sets out what should be considered in the assessment.

This section of the pre-sentence report should start by setting out that the offence is a specified offence under , and if relevant, that the offence is a serious offence as defined by section 224 of that Act (i.e. it is a specified offence and it is punishable by a custodial life sentence or detention for a period of ten years of more).

The assessment of dangerousness should consider all available information, including:

the past behaviour of the child
the offences they were convicted of
their nature and circumstances including any concern about the child being a victim of exploitation

It should also take into account any previous patterns of behaviour (relevant to the offence type) and any known behaviour which did not proceed to charge such as incidents in school, which may have been a cause for concern. As with all other forms of assessments undertaken on children, their level of maturity may be relevant when assessing future probable behaviour.

You should not make a recommendation either way about the dangerousness of the child. The report should present the facts of past harmful behaviour, whether the child was convicted or not, to enable the court to make this decision.

You should outline a comprehensive and appropriate intervention plan to increase safety and public protection.

For more information read: on 鈥榙angerousness鈥�

The conclusion and proposal is the final section of the pre-sentence report (PSR). It should move towards a single proposal for sentencing, following clearly and logically on from the information contained in the previous sections of the report. The proposal should be derived from:

the non-binding indication of the seriousness of the offence
assessment of the child and their circumstances
the author鈥檚 assessment of the seriousness of the offence
the offence analysis
their welfare and any specific considerations including concerns about exploitation or the negative effects of custody
interventions which will support positive child outcomes, leading to desistance
constructive plans for the child鈥檚 future

If the court provided a preliminary view on a particular disposal, but another option is preferred, the reasons for this should be explained. PSR authors should always consider all realistic alternatives to custodial orders.

The report should address the type of sentence and requirements that are most likely to support desistance and reduce the likelihood of harm to others, focus on how the child can be supported to develop a pro-social identity and lifestyle which builds on their strengths and interests. The proposal should be tailored to the circumstances of the child and the offence/s committed. Report authors should always propose a community alternative, if at all possible, to ensure that use of custody is limited only to where is is considered the only appropriate option. See also when to propose custody in a pre-sentence report.

Proposals for community sentences with youth justice service (YJS) intervention should outline:

the expectations of the order
the content of the intervention plan and how this will support the development of the child鈥檚 pro-social identity
the assistance and support that will be provided to the child and their family
the child鈥檚 view of the proposal and their collaboration in drawing up their plan
the suggested length of order

If the court is considering imposing a custodial sentence, the impact and adverse effect on the child should be explicitly stated. This includes the impact on their:

education, training and employment
accommodation
family relationships
emotional and mental health
safety and wellbeing

Factors related to safety and well-being should be addressed within the context of the child鈥檚 age, maturity and vulnerability and their first experience of loss of liberty. Some of these aspects may be significantly heightened for children who have been exploited, and experienced trauma. In these instances, the harmful effects of custody should be thoroughly explored, and the use of custody mitigated against.

This section should also explain the extent to which the proposal would support positive outcomes (evidence suggests that increasing experiences of custody increase the likelihood of reoffending). If it appears that custody is highly likely or is the only proportionate option, the report should discuss the potential length of sentence, how the child can be supported and risks managed with intensive support from the YJS.

A Referral Order is the most common sentence for 10 to 17-years-olds. It can be given in the following circumstances:

Children that plead guilty and are convicted by the court for the first time. In these instances, it is the only available sentencing option apart from custody.
On a second or subsequent occasion in certain circumstances (see below).

The specify that a second or subsequent Referral Order should be considered in the following circumstances, provided there has been a guilty plea:

the offence is not serious enough for a Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO), but the child appears to require some intervention; OR
the offence is serious enough for a YRO but it is felt that a Referral Order would be the best disposal for the child (for example, this is because the child responded well in the past to such an order and the offence now before the court is dissimilar to that for which a Referral Order was previously imposed)

In these instances, although the Referral Order conditions are met, as custody is not being considered, it is unlikely that a pre-sentence report (PSR) will be requested, although a verbal report could be required by the court.

Arguments should be made against the use of custody in preference for the community alternative. Where the custody threshold is met, the PSR may include a more intensive Referral Order Contract. To prepare this, the youth justice service (YJS) should consider convening an informal 鈥榩re-sentence panel鈥� involving the child, their parent or carer, YJS and volunteer panel members to consider the likely content and to inform the PSR proposal.

If a Referral Order is given, the child is referred to a Referral Order Panel for the development of a Referral Order contract which is then managed by the YJS.

After the court has sentenced the child to a Referral Order and the first panel is convened, the YJS should draw its attention to the draft contract within the PSR. However, it is the Referral Order Panel which then determines the content of the contract. The panel may vary what was proposed to the court, although should consider any comments it made at the point of sentence.

For further information, please see the .

If a child is likely to reach their 18th birthday whilst being supervised by the YJS on a Referral Order, you should advise the court that whilst the YJS retains the statutory duty to implement the order, the YJS and National Probation Service will agree on how the different elements of the Referral Order contract are delivered and which agency will supervise them. For further information see the section on Transitions to the National Probation Service in the and the .

The Referral Order Panel report is produced after the court has made the decision to place the child on a Referral Order. A panel is convened at which the content of the Referral Order contract is agreed with the child and their parents/carers. The report is produced to inform the panel鈥檚 discussion.

The format for a Referral Order Panel report is locally determined and should ideally follow a similar format to the pre-sentence report. It will assist panel members to understand:

the reasons and circumstances around the offence
the child鈥檚 situation
any safety concerns for the child or others
what the Referral Order contract could contain

The report must be concise (usually no more than two pages), written in plain English and jargon-free. Diversity should always be considered to ensure that there is no discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, religion, looked after status or sexual orientation.

An initial section should outline the facts of the offence as accepted by the court at the point of conviction, and the child鈥檚 views of the offence, highlighting any differences and explanations of where accounts differ.

The report should use information obtained from the AssetPlus assessment to discuss concerns in relation to supporting desistance, and safety concerns about the child and the public. The report should be strengths based, highlighting the positive aspects in the child鈥檚 life which can support development of a pro-social identity and positive child outcomes including constructive factors in their lives, interests and the support networks around them.

The sentencing court may make advisory observations regarding areas of concern that they want the report author to consider. The Referral Order Panel report should conclude by setting out these issues. If a draft Intensive Referral Order Contract was included in the pre-sentence report, the report should refer to this and draw the panel鈥檚 attention to any comments the court made about the contents.

The conclusion of the report should indicate what interventions could help support desistance. Any proposals regarding the content of the contract should be proportionate and consider:

the child鈥檚 experience of the youth justice system
whether this is a first Referral Order
whether there has been a previous sentence
whether custody was under consideration

The report should also indicate the level of supervisory contact with the child and the number and frequency of contacts throughout the order. Please see how to decide the frequency of contacts arranged with children for more detail.

You should make the Referral Order Panel report available to panel members at least two days before the initial panel meeting or within other locally agreed timescales. The report should be distributed according to locally agreed protocols and information-sharing agreements, to ensure that data protection and privacy requirements are observed.

Read the Referral Order guidance for further information.

There are a range of requirements that can be attached to the Youth Rehabilitation Order. They are intended to be a menu of options you can use and tailor to the needs of the child. You should be familiar with the requirements available, consider what is appropriate based on your assessment of the child, their needs and in their best interests. You should assess whether the child can realistically manage the expectations placed on them.

There are no limits to the conditions which can be attached to a YRO, however, the requirements recommended should be necessary to support desistance and community safety. The composition of the YRO should be a proportionate response to the seriousness of the offence.

You should also note that the length of the YRO and the individual requirements may run to their own timescales, which may be shorter than the overall YRO. The YRO will run for the length of its longest (or latest finishing) requirement. A Supervision requirement will run for the full length of the order and not finish before any other requirement. The court may specify in the order the date or dates by which particular requirements must be completed.

The proposed requirements should be agreed with the child (and their parents or carers) to:

establish their willingness and motivation to engage and whether there would be any difficulties in engaging with a particular requirement for health or other reasons
whether the child is likely to be able to engage with multiple interventions and different professionals
ensure there will not be any unintended consequences from imposing a particular requirement
ensure the requirements do not interfere with the child鈥檚 education, training or employment
ensure the requirements do not conflict with any other activity the child may be engaging in e.g. as part of their care plan or religious observance

Available requirements are:

Supervision Requirement
Programme Requirement
Activity Requirement
Attendance Centre Requirement
Curfew Requirement
Education Requirement
Residence Requirement
Local Authority Residence Requirement
Drug Treatment Requirement
Drug Testing Requirement
Mental Health Treatment Requirement
Intoxicating Substance Treatment Requirement
Exclusion Requirement
Prohibited Activity Requirement
Electronic Monitoring Requirement
Unpaid Work Requirement

As an alternative to custody, the court may also impose a YRO with:

Intensive Supervision and Surveillance (for cases that meet the custody threshold)
Intensive Fostering (for cases that meet the custody threshold)

A single youth justice service (YJS) case manager should be allocated to the child who will co-ordinate, sequence and monitor the completion of the requirements. If you are the case manager, you are responsible for ensuring:

the completion of the AssetPlus assessment
how the different requirements will be delivered, which agencies and individuals will be involved and coordinating and overseeing the overall activity
the level and frequency of contact with the child has been determined
regular reviews take place to monitor the child鈥檚 needs, progress and engagement
early revocation is considered where there is positive progress

At the start of the order, you should collaborate with the child to develop the supervision plan, taking into account their views and interests. You should explain the expectations and ensure they can engage and will receive the necessary support to help them to successfully complete the order.

If the child is subject to a Programme Requirement (group work or one-to-one) or an Activity Requirement (engagement in a particular activity for a specified number of days), you should:

ensure the child understands what the requirement means in terms of participation, how they will attend/engage and who will be delivering the sessions to them
advise the child how many sessions they will be required to attend and the purpose of the sessions e.g. to take part in reparation or to undertake a programme that relates to the type of crime they have committed
ensure that any individual or agency delivering on behalf of the YJS is aware of the child鈥檚 needs and goals and any other factors which may have a bearing on how they deliver the programme or activity
monitor the child鈥檚 engagement and progress with the programme or activities, by seeking their views on how they feel it is going and obtaining the views of staff or agencies delivering inputs on behalf of the YJS
help the child to reflect on what they have learned and how it will assist them in the future
record attendance and progress on the YJS case management system from the programmes and activities in which they have participated

Attendance Centres are available as a requirement within a Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO), for children aged 10 to 17.

A Junior Attendance Centre (JAC) can also be used as a stand-alone condition in the following circumstances:

as part of a youth conditional caution
as a licence condition on release from custody (including for 18-year-olds who are under the supervision of the youth justice service (YJS))
under section 60 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 for non-payment of a fine, and as a Youth Default Order under section 13 of the Criminal Justice and Immigrations Act 2008

If the JAC is a requirement of a YRO, the child will be required to attend for a set number of hours, on set days (usually at the weekend). It can be considered when the child is attending education, training or employment on weekdays. When considering the number of hours of attendance to propose in a pre-sentence report, you should consult with the JAC Officer in Charge.

If a child is aged 16 years or over at the time of conviction, the number of hours which they must attend, are on aggregate:

no less than 12 hours
no more than 36 hours

If the child is aged over 14 but under 16 at the time of the conviction, their aggregate number of hours must be:

no less than 12 hours
no more than 24 hours

A child cannot be asked to attend:

for more than one session in any one day
for more than three hours in one session

The Attendance Centre must be available in the child鈥檚 local area and there must be a place be available for them before the requirement is proposed to the court.

In deciding on whether to recommend a child for a JAC Requirement your AssetPlus assessment should consider:

The child鈥檚 needs, maturity and readiness to attend a JAC, their previous engagement with the YJS, what they feel about attendance, how the sessions and programmes on offer would be beneficial to them and whether there are any alternatives.
Whether they can successfully complete the number of hours required, whether there is anything that would prevent their attendance e.g. attending education, training or employment or any other activities they take part in, or being subject to electronic or GPS monitoring that restricts their movement to certain areas. Consideration also needs to be given to the distance the child has to travel to attend the JAC and whether the journey is feasible.
Whether the child鈥檚 health and wellbeing affect their ability to take part in the activities or to complete the required hours.
An assessment health and safety for the child and others. The assessment should consider whether the child can safely mix with others who may be undertaking group activities at the JAC, whether there are any safeguarding concerns and the child鈥檚 general ability to cope in group situations.

If the court has imposed attendance at a Junior Attendance Centre (JAC) as part of a Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO), you will be the responsible 鈥榦fficer in charge鈥� of the JAC Requirement as well as any other requirement in the YRO (including breach). Where a child receives a JAC as a stand-alone outcome, the 鈥榦fficer in charge鈥� will be the responsible officer for the order (including breach). The responsible officer should notify the child of the details of attendance.

There is no prescribed programme of activity for a JAC. However, it should be:

purposeful
have an educational and vocational focus
engage the child in positive developmental activities promoting desistance
support positive child outcomes
support the development of emotional and physical well-being, employability and life skills

You should be familiar with what is being provided and what the child is expected to do. Sessions are usually delivered on a rolling basis over a several weeks. Activities should promote engagement, take account of the diverse needs of the children attending and ensure there is appropriate provision for girls specifically.

The JAC may include sessions on the following:

assistance with education, training and employment (including vocational activities and guidance on accessing training courses and job search)
life skills (problem-solving skills, dealing with peer pressure, developing healthy relationships)
confidence building, identity exploring, goal setting and planning for the future
restorative justice and victim work to help to understand the impact of crime on the individual, victim and community
there is no requirement to offer sport or physical exercise, however it may promote a healthy lifestyle. If it is offered, it must be delivered by a qualified coach and first aiders must be present

Children who are required to attend should receive an induction which explains to them what is expected in terms of attendance and participation in the sessions provided. The child鈥檚 youth justice service (YJS) worker may do this or agree that it is delivered by the JAC Officer in Charge.

You should ensure the child is provided with information concerning dates and times/schedule of attendance and support them by reminding them of the need to attend in advance of each session, to assist them to engage.

There should also be an assessment at the start of the child鈥檚 engagement with the JAC to ensure that safeguarding and public protection is fully considered. You should ensure you share any information which may be relevant to enable the JAC to comprehensively undertake this assessment, as well as any information which may be relevant to understanding the child鈥檚 ability to engage with the activities and sessions.

You should monitor the child鈥檚 level of engagement, understanding and progress and discuss this with them at regular intervals to help them to reflect on what they are learning and pass on positive feedback. You should also liaise with the JAC to obtain information from their records and perspective about the child鈥檚 involvement and attendance.

If there are any failures to attend and/or engage you should follow up with the child to find out the reasons why and discus with them what you and/or the JAC can do to support their engagement. If breach action is likely to be a consideration see how to respond to non-engagement.

If the child turns 18 at any point during the JAC Requirement (when a requirement of a YRO), the YJS should retain responsibility until the completion of the requirement.

The Curfew Requirement means the child must stay in a specified place during specified hours. It may be appropriate when there is an identified time-based pattern to the child鈥檚 behaviour. There can be more than one specified place and period for different days. The curfew cannot be for less than two hours or more than 20 hours in any 24-hour period with a weekly minimum of 112 hours. There cannot be different periods of curfew on different days and the requirement may not exceed six months.

Curfews are usually imposed overnight, but daytime curfews are also possible in exceptional circumstances. If a daytime curfew is under consideration, you should consider the effect on the child鈥檚 education, training and employment. When assessing whether to use a curfew, you should consider:

the curfew time
the child鈥檚 age, maturity and ability to understand the requirement
the behaviour the curfew is trying to prevent
any commitments the child has such as maintaining contact with family members who live separately
the type of accommodation the child is living in, the implications of imposing the requirement (on the child and the household) in that accommodation, and whether monitoring equipment can be installed e.g. it may not be possible in a hostel or supported accommodation

If the curfew requires that the child does not leave their accommodation, checks need to be made to ensure the child is not unduly at risk in the household and what the impact will be on the household and any stigma it may cause. Consideration also needs to be given to how the curfew would be monitored e.g. electronically or by other means.

You should explain to the child (and their parents/carers) what the curfew means, discuss how the child can be supported to comply and the implications of not doing so. Parents and carers should be fully involved in the process.

If an Electronic Monitoring Requirement or a GPS tag is to be attached please see information on the The YRO Electronic Monitoring Requirement.

Location monitoring (GPS tags) are also available for children and are an option for Youth Rehabilitation Orders (YROs). The location monitoring tag monitors the child鈥檚 location 24 hours a day using GPS technology. The technology allows a specific zone to be monitored to ensure the child is within the zone or does not enter the zone (restricted area). It may be used as an alternative to custody. The vulnerability of the child should always be considered both in terms of the domestic setting in which they are living and the type of crime this is trying to prevent.

You should undertake database checks with the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (for children鈥檚 services, early help etc) and with the police. Police checks should not just be for anyone with convictions in the address, but also checks on intelligence systems for incidents where the police were called to the address but no action was taken.

Services should not recommend a tagged curfew if the household is known to be volatile, and the child might need to leave the property for their safety. As well as database checks there should always be a home visit, and interviews with the child with and without family/carers to have a full assessment of the home environment.

All of this is to mitigate the risks from requiring the child to remain in the property, and with increasing incidences of violence from children towards family members, including risks to all in the household.

It may not be suitable for all children as they have to ensure the tag is charged on a daily basis. The type of monitoring used should always be proportionate, not overly intrusive and not be used for any other purpose than monitoring the requirement. Please read the GPS Location Monitoring guidance if you are considering this.

Visit the for further information.

Most curfews will continue with the existing non-GPS Radio Frequency system which restricts the child to a single place for a fixed period, however it should be noted that GPS tags have the capacity to monitor curfew and location at the same time.

The Exclusion Requirement prohibits the child from going into a specified area for a specified time period. The specified period must not be longer than three months. The requirement may be appropriate where the child鈥檚 offending relates to a particular area or premises. The prohibited area should be one that is directly associated with their offending. For example, it would not be appropriate to restrict from an entire whole local authority area, or a very wide geographical locality such as the whole of the M25 area.

In assessing whether the requirement is appropriate, careful consideration should be given to ensuring it is in the best interests of the child, takes into account their vulnerability if movement is restricted and whether it will reduce the contact they have with their support network. You should also check whether it is likely to have any impact on other activities and requirements they are being asked to fulfil so there is no conflict.

You should consider the child鈥檚 ability to comprehend what exclusion means and whether they would need any support to maintain the requirement. You should explain the exclusion area to the child by giving them a marked map which clearly indicates where they should not go and why. If they are unable to understand a map you should find an appropriate way of explaining what is required and check that they understand. Families, carers and others supporting the child should be informed of the exclusion area and be consulted about how they can support the child to comply.

If an Electronic Monitoring requirement is to be attached or a GPS tag please see The YRO Electronic Monitoring Requirement.

Location monitoring (GPS tags) are also available for children and are an option for Youth Rehabilitation Orders. The location monitoring tag monitors the child鈥檚 location 24 hours a day using GPS technology. The technology allows a specific zone to be monitored to ensure the child is within the zone or does not enter the zone (restricted area). It should only be used in exceptional cases, as this is a highly restrictive measure. The vulnerability of the child should always be considered both in terms of the domestic setting in which they are living and the type of crime this is trying to prevent. It may not be suitable for all children as they have to ensure the tag is charged on a daily basis. The type of monitoring used should always be proportionate and not be used for any other purpose than monitoring the requirement. Please read the GPS Location Monitoring guidance if you are considering this.

Further information on location monitoring is on the .

The Electronic Monitoring Requirement may be attached to a Curfew Requirement and an Exclusion Requirement or as a standalone requirement where assessed necessary. The AssetPlus assessment should be used to determine whether the child is able to manage the restrictions of liberty this requirement imposes and how it will support the Curfew or Exclusion Requirements.

If electronic monitoring is to be used to support a curfew, the suitability of the address should be assessed and discussions held with the parent/carer, local authority or other accommodation provider, depending on where the child is living, to gain their consent to the installation of the monitoring equipment. If the child is looked after you should liaise with their social worker.

You should make a number of checks to assess whether recommending an Electronic Monitoring Requirement is suitable. These include database checks with children鈥檚 services and as wide a range of police intelligence services as possible, plus any other agencies which may have relevant intelligence on home circumstances. You should not recommend this an requirement if the home situation is known to be volatile, and the child might need to be able to leave the property for their safety. As well as database checks you should always visit the home and interview the child with and without family/carers to have a full assessment of the home environment. Restrictions on physically leaving a property can place a great deal of strain on the household, and the purpose of the assessment is to mitigate the risks from requiring the child to remain in the property, both to the child and to all others in the household.

It should be noted that the court must also impose an Electronic Monitoring Requirement unless it believes it is inappropriate in the circumstances of the case. However, in putting this recommendation forward you should ensure that it is a proportionate response to the child鈥檚 behaviour 鈥� usually only as an alternative to custody. Care should be taken to ensure the requirement is not used for children who are vulnerable as a means of monitoring their whereabouts in place of ensuring they get the services they need.

For further information on the use of electronic monitoring for cases involving curfew:

The joint protocol between youth justice services and electronic monitoring providers,

Location monitoring (GPS tags) is also available for children and is an option for YROs. The location monitoring tag monitors the child鈥檚 location 24 hours a day using GPS technology. The technology allows a specific zone to be monitored to ensure the child is within the zone or does not enter the zone (restricted area). It should be used to help support the child in the community and meet the requirements of their court order. The vulnerability of the child should always be considered both in terms of the domestic setting in which they are living and the type of crime that this is trying to prevent. It may not be suitable for all children as they have to ensure that the tag is charged on a daily basis. The type of monitoring used should always be proportionate, not overly intrusive and not be used for any other purpose than monitoring the requirement.

Please read the GPS Location Monitoring guidance if you are considering this.

For further information on location monitoring:

and GPS location monitoring

If the Electronic Monitoring Requirement and a Curfew or Exclusion Zone Requirement are the only requirements attached to the Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO), it is the electronic monitoring service which is responsible for almost every aspect of the order and not the youth justice service (YJS). The exceptions to this are applications to vary, revoke or breach an order, which are the responsibility of the YJS. The YJS鈥檚 role in managing the YRO is to ensure there are arrangements in place for consistent communication with the agency supplying the monitoring equipment so that any concerns or breaches are promptly passed on and dealt with.

AssetPlus assessments should be used to determine whether the child is able to manage the restriction of liberty this requirement entails. However, there may be occasions where an assessment has not been completed, but the court nevertheless imposes the Electronic Monitoring Requirement. If this occurs, it is good practice to complete the assessment post sentence.

After sentencing you should contact the electronic monitoring service within one working day. You should provide them with the name of the YJS worker who should be contacted if the electronic monitoring service seeks a variation, revocation or breach of the order. You may use the Supervising Officer contact details form to convey this information.

Electronic monitoring services are responsible for:

fitting electronic monitoring devices (tags)
monitoring engagement and passing information the YJS
issuing warning letters

It is good practice (but not a requirement of the order) for YJSs to develop locally agreed procedures for allocating a worker to support the child on a voluntary basis and to liaise with the electronic monitoring service. This may help to reduce the likelihood of avoidable violations occurring, provide the child with a point of contact and alert the electronic monitoring service to any change in the child鈥檚 circumstances that it needs to consider. However, it does not transfer any responsibilities from the electronic monitoring service to the YJS.

The Unpaid Work Requirement is available for 16 and 17 at the time of their conviction.

The requirement can be for a minimum of 40 hours to a maximum of 240 hours over a 12-month period. The hours must be completed within 12 months of the sentence date. There are no legislative conditions around the specific number of hours of unpaid work that a child must complete per day, however it is expected it would be a minimum of four hours a day or 16 hours over seven days where appropriate. The requirement remains in place until the child has completed the number of hours specified in the order.

Children receiving this requirement are usually not in employment, training or education. If they are, careful consideration needs to be given as to why the requirement is appropriate.

The AssetPlus assessment should inform whether a child should be recommended for this requirement. Consideration should be given to:

the needs of the child, their maturity and ability to engage in community-based activity
their current education, training and employment (ETE) status and attendance and engagement with ETE
the scope for the Unpaid Work Requirement for the child to develop skills, gain a qualification and increase employability
the child鈥檚 health and wellbeing and their ability to undertake reparation to the community which usually involves some form of physical activity
an assessment of the safety and wellbeing of the child or others, as the requirement is generally group work based, with the provider delivering activities to children referred from different youth justice services (YJSs) and/or different geographical areas within the same YJS to ensure children can safely mix together
the child鈥檚 own views on whether they can undertake and complete the number of hours successfully, and the YJSs assessment of any factors that would prevent them from doing so or other restrictions and conditions on their order such as electronic tagging that might impact on their ability to attend the designated location
what support the child would need to successfully complete the requirement
whether the child can integrate and feel safe and secure in a group, particularly with people they do not know
how the requirement can support desistance
how the requirement can contribute to the development of vocational and employability skills

The court must be satisfied that provision is available in the local area before imposing the requirement.

Following sentence, the expectations and requirements should be fully explained to the child (and their parents/carers) to check their understanding and what will happen if they have difficulty in carrying out the requirement. They should be provided with information about where to attend, what they will be doing and the dates and times/schedule of attendance. This should ensure they are able to get to and from the required location at the appointed times. The child鈥檚 engagement and progress with unpaid work should be checked at regular agreed intervals. They should be advised of who they can talk to should they have any problems and how to contact them.

There is no prescribed activity which constitutes unpaid work. The options should be fully discussed and explored with the child. They should be encouraged to share their views about what activity to undertake. Unpaid work should support positive child outcomes by providing the opportunity for learning and development. Ideally, it should assist the child to acquire skills, qualifications and experience. This is in line with routes to the child鈥檚 future pro-social self and will directly aid future employability.

You should be familiar with the local arrangements for making referrals to unpaid work providers in your area and the nature and type of unpaid work provided. There is an expectation that the provider will undertake an assessment of the child before any work commences and the requirement should commence within five days of sentence. You should ensure that you are aware of the child鈥檚 progress throughout and if there are any difficulties discuss them with the child and provider. The work must not be undertaken in any way which could cause stigma or humiliation, such as wearing a high visibility vest.

The youth justice service is responsible for addressing any breach of this requirement. If the provider identifies any additional needs of the child which cannot be met, they should discuss them with the child鈥檚 case manager who should then decide whether the requirement is still suitable.

As case manager, you should also consider referring the child to the education officer in the team for further advice and guidance on education, training and employment opportunities and/or careers advice. For further information on unpaid work, please read the model on the

Intensive Supervision and Surveillance (ISS) is a direct alternative to custody. It should always be considered as a proposal in a pre-sentence report for children who are at risk of custody. However, it may not always be the most suitable option. Factors you may want to consider when assessing a child for ISS are:

Would ISS be in the best interests of children?
Would ISS recognise their particular needs and capabilities?
Will the work delivered be child focused and developmentally informed?
Have you considered all other community based orders as alternative means to protect the public from harm?

You should always consider whether you can propose an alternative option using a combination of the other requirements that can be attached to a Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO). ISS includes an expectation of a high level of appointments weekly, so your assessment should consider whether the child can manage the amount of contact required to ensure they are not set up to fail. ISS is accompanied by an electronically monitored curfew, which is the element described as 鈥榮urveillance鈥�.

All youth justice services (YJSs) must ensure that they have the capability and capacity to propose and deliver ISS and provide the court with credible alternatives to custody. ISS does not have to be delivered by dedicated ISS workers, but can be delivered with contributions from various workers within and external to the YJS.

ISS is imposed for between 90 and 180 days. It should also be noted that ISS can also be a condition of bail or as a licence condition of a detention and training order. A YRO with ISS must include a Supervision Requirement, Curfew Requirement, Electronic Monitoring Requirement and an extended Activity Requirement, but can also include any other requirement.

An ISS programme will usually include many of the following:

Education, training or employment, which should align to any education or training the child is undertaking prior to the order; and is likely to be the main element of the programme. If a child is not in any education or training this does not preclude ISS but it may be necessary to tailor expectations until provision is in place.
Restorative work, where the child has the maturity and cognitive ability to engage with this type of activity. Please see restorative approaches and how to use them for more detail
Identifying activities with the child that will support skills and strengths and encourage positive outcomes, leading to desistance.
Sessions with parents/carers to ensure they understand the requirement of ISS and what they can do to support the child throughout.

There may be variations in how each of the elements are delivered case by case and YJS by YJS. As resources and services vary considerably from area to area and programmes should be tailored to the needs of each individual child. The key consideration is to ensure the court will have confidence in what is being proposed.

The youth justice service (YJS) should have quality assurance processes in place which review all reports before they are presented to the court or a Referral Order Panel. This should include a process for management oversight and sign-off. The process can assist practitioners to improve their report writing skills. It also ensures that what is presented to the court sets out the most suitable way of dealing with the child, is in their best interests and interventions proposed will promote positive child outcomes, and support desistance.

In quality assuring reports, consideration should be given to whether the report is:

Balanced: creates a constructive narrative for developing the child鈥檚 pro-social identity and future.
Impartial: based on information from a range of sources including the child鈥檚 views, Crown Prosecution Service information, assessment by the YJS worker and the views of any victim/s.
Timely: produced in line with the timescales set out in guidance, or those agreed locally with the court.
Focussed: analytical rather than descriptive, following a logical structure, free from discriminatory language and stereotypes: reports must be sensitive to factors of difference, and treat children with fairness, dignity and respect.
Factually accurate: information in reports must be verified.
Promotes fairness: ensure that diverse needs are met in plans and proposals.
Constructive: contain a proposal that is clear to the court with a well-argued rationale for the sentence indicated.
Understandable: to the child and parents/carers: use plain language, jargon and acronym free. Children and their parents/carers and legal representatives must have the opportunity to read the report prior to the court or panel, in translation if needed.

The YJS may also want to consider other processes for monitoring the quality of their court work. The standards for children in the youth justice system provides a framework for this.

The YJS should also monitor court outcomes and sentencing decisions, the effectiveness of their court reports and outcomes in relation to ethnicity to identify disproportionality to be able to address it.

For further information see the ways to improve quality section of this guidance.

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How to use reports

Child safeguarding

Risk of harm posed by the child

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How to use reports

The sentences available to court when sentencing a child aged 10 to 17 years of age, Show

The types of report required for children in court, Show

Using an existing pre-sentence report, Show

The stand down report, Show

The progress report, Show

The breach report, Show

The pre-sentence report, Show

The information a pre-sentence report should contain, Show

The sources of information for the pre-sentence report, Show

The front page of the pre-sentence report, Show

How to interview children for reports, Show

What the 鈥榓ssessment of the child鈥� part of the pre-sentence report should contain, Show

What the offence analysis section of the pre-sentence report should contain, Show

What happens if the child denies the offence(s) while you are preparing a PSR, Show

How to consider diversity when writing a report, Show

What the assessment of the risk to the community section of the pre-sentence report should contain, Show

What to consider in an assessment of dangerousness in a pre-sentence report, Show

What the conclusion and proposal of the pre-sentence report should contain, Show

When to propose custody in a pre-sentence report, Show

What to do if a child is likely to become 18 years old during the sentencing process, Show

What to consider when writing a court report when a Referral Order is under consideration, Show

How to produce a Referral Order report, Show

What to do when a child receives a Referral Order, Show

When to consider a Youth Rehabilitation Order in the pre-sentence report, Show

The requirements that can be attached to a Youth Rehabilitation Order, Show

The YRO Supervision Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Supervision Requirement, Show

The YRO Programme Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Programme Requirement, Show

The YRO Activity Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Activity Requirement, Show

The Attendance Centre Requirement (as a YRO requirement or stand-alone condition), Show

How to manage the Attendance Centre Requirement, Show

The Curfew Requirement (as a YRO requirement or stand-alone condition), Show

How to manage the Curfew Requirement, Show

Child safeguarding

Risk of harm posed by the child

The YRO Education Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Education Requirement, Show

The YRO Residence Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Residence Requirement, Show

The YRO Local Authority Residence Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Local Authority Residence Requirement, Show

The YRO Drug Treatment Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Drug Treatment Requirement, Show

The YRO Drug Testing Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Drug Testing Requirement, Show

The YRO Mental Health Treatment Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Mental Health Requirement, Show

The YRO Intoxicating Substance Treatment Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Intoxicating Substance Treatment Requirement, Show

The YRO Exclusion Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Exclusion Requirement, Show

The YRO Electronic Monitoring Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Electronic Monitoring Requirement, Show

What to do when a child breaches electronic monitoring, Show

The YRO Prohibited Activity Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Prohibited Activity Requirement, Show

The YRO Unpaid Work Requirement, Show

How to manage the YRO Unpaid Work Requirement, Show

Intensive Supervision and Surveillance, Show

How to manage Intensive Supervision and Surveillance, Show

Intensive Fostering, Show

How to manage Intensive Fostering, Show

How to ensure the report is high quality, Show

How to advise the court if it has not been possible to prepare a pre-sentence report, Show

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