Youth Crime
Children’s Court - Criminal Division is a special section of the Magistrates’ Court that deals with young people aged under 18 years of age.
The Children’s Court uses a similar procedure when dealing with criminal matters in the children’s jurisdiction. There are some processes that are unique to the Childrens’ Court, however:
A focus on rehabilitation and reducing the risk for re-offending.
The Court may consider redirecting the child offender to diversion programs, rather than sentencing to them to detention.
If the child offender must be sentenced to detention, it will more likely be in a youth justice centre than a prison.
Our dedicated Youth Crime lawyers can assist with a criminal matter in the Children’s Court from the beginning of the matter when charges are laid, all the way through until sentencing or diversion.