The Jersey Youth Criminal Justice System

Arrest

Community Service 16 years+
Youth Detention 15 – 20 yrs

Age of Criminal Responsibility

• No person under the age of ten years can be presumed to be guilty of an offence. Children (Jersey) Law 2002.
• Under the Criminal Justice [Young Offenders] [Jersey] Law 1994 the Court may require parents to guarantee the good behaviour of their children.

Court appearance

Youth Court

Young people aged from 10 to 17 years may be required to attend the Youth Court. The Youth Court sits at the Magistrate’s Court, Union Street, St Helier presided over by a Magistrate and two of the lay panel.

Legal Aid is available for young people where their parent(s) cannot afford to pay for the services of a lawyer. Parents must apply for children aged 16 and under.  Over eighteen years, young people attend the Magistrate’s or Royal Court.

Parish Hall Enquiry

Most young people under eighteen who are accused of offences attend a Parish Hall Enquiry to decide whether a court appearance will be necessary.

Detention

A person aged 15 to 20 years may be sentenced to Youth Detention. A person under 17 may not be detained for a term exceeding 6 months.