Q. What happens if I get arrested?

Q. When can I ask to see a solicitor?

Q. What will happen at court?

Q. What can the Court do to me?

Q. What happens if I get arrested?

A. If you are under 17 the police must call an appropriate adult to the police station i.e. your social worker or foster carer. In addition you have the right to ask for a solicitor, and you should do this immediately. A duty solicitor is always available to see you. This is a free service. Appropriate adults and solicitors have different roles. The adult is there to support you and the solicitor is there to give you legal advice.

Q. When can I ask to see a solicitor?

A. On arrival at the Police Station the Custody Sergeant will advise you of your rights including the right to free legal advice. You can and should ask for a solicitor, even if your social worker or foster carer don't think you need one.

If you don't know a solicitor you can ask for the duty solicitor. (The duty solicitor is independent and is nothing to do with the police).

Even if you think you have done nothing wrong it is important to have a solicitor present at this early stage.

Q.What will happen at Court?

You can have a lawyer to help you in Court. The Court will ask you if you have done the crime. If you tell the Court that you did not do the crime, the Court will ask you to come back on another date for a trial. This is the day when Police witnesses tell their side of the story and you can tell your side. If the Court finds you guilty or you admit that you are guilty, then the Court has to decide how to punish you. This is called the "sentence".

Q. What can the Court do to me?

Most young people who are punished at Court do not get locked up. The Courts have a range of other powers which include telling you to make good the damage you have done, giving up some of your leisure time or seeing a special type of Social Worker from the Youth Offending Team each week. You will only be punished if you admit the offence or the Court finds you guilty.

In the Youth Court, if you have reached the age of 12, you can be sentenced to detention (locked up) if the Court thinks what you did is serious. For some more serious crimes, your trial will take place in the Crown Court, where there is a Judge and a Jury, and where the Court can send you into detention from the age of 10 years.

Most young people aged 15 or over who are sentenced to detention will go to a Young Offenders Institution which is part of the Prison Service. Younger people will usually go to a Secure Unit.

The powers of the Criminal Court are very complicated. If you are charged with an offence, you should get early advice from a specialist defence lawyer.