CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ACT 1999 (NO. 63 OF 1999) - SECT 68 Principles

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ACT 1999 (NO. 63 OF 1999) - SECT 68

    If a decision is to be made under this Part in relation to a young person or young offender, the decision-maker must make the decision in accordance with the following principles:

        (a)     if a young person does anything that is contrary to law, he or she should be encouraged to accept responsibility for the behaviour and be held accountable;

        (b)     the young person should be dealt with in a way that acknowledges his or her needs and that will provide the opportunity to develop in socially responsible ways;

        (c)     a young person may only be detained in custody for an offence (whether on arrest, in remand or under sentence) as a last resort;

        (d)     young offenders should be dealt with in the criminal law system in a manner consistent with their age and maturity and have the same rights and protection before the law as would adults in similar circumstances;

        (e)     on and after conviction, it is a high priority to give a young offender the opportunity to re-enter the community;

        (f)     a balanced approach must be taken between the needs of the young offender, the rights of any victim of the action that constituted the young offender's offence and the interests of the community.