Youth Justice Law and Practice

Youth Justice Law and Practice is a highly accessible and easy to navigate guide to enable the busy practitioner to quickly find the information they need. Covering the procedure of the youth court, magistrates court, Crown Court and Court of Appeal, it focuses on procedural differences including bail and remand, jury directions, sentencing, anonymity and reporting restrictions. The authors bring their unique experience as specialist youth justice lawyers to explain how to communicate and engage effectively with children, the correct approach for dealing with children with learning difficulties, the importance of background and how to ensure children effectively participate in criminal proceedings and receive a fair trial. Contents include: duties owed to children at the police station; charging decisions and out of court disposals; bail and remand; age assessments; the sentencing framework relating to children; procedures and modifications to trial relating to children anonymity and reporting restrictions; welfare considerations and duties; communication skills; background and adolescent brain development; criminal records. Youth Justice Law and Practice is essential reading for lawyers and professionals working in the youth justice system, appearing in the youth court and representing children in the adult criminal courts.