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.