Code of Practice for Youth Conditional Cautions for 16 and 17 Year Olds

Youth Conditional Cautions are an out-of-court disposal aimed at reducing the number of young offenders taken to court for low-level offending, where appropriate conditions can meet the justices of the case taking into account the views of the victim and the behavioural needs of the young person.

The Code of Practice for Youth Conditional Cautions is issued by the Secretary of State for Justice and has been approved by Parliament and brought into force by Statutory Instrument. It extends to England and Wales. The Code governs the use of Youth Conditional Cautions under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Key content:

• Objective of Youth Conditional Cautioning
• The requirements of the Act
• Deciding whether a Youth Conditional Caution should be given
• Administration of the Youth Conditional Caution
• Monitoring and Compliance
• Recording and citing Conditional Caution