YOUNG OFFENDERS ACT 1997 - SECT 45
Preparation for conferences
YOUNG OFFENDERS ACT 1997 - SECT 45
Preparation for conferences
45 Preparation for conferences
(1) The conference convenor must determine--
(a) the date, time and place of
the conference, and
(b) the persons who should be invited to attend.
(2) A
conference convenor must, if practicable, before determining the matters
referred to in subsection (1)--
(a) consult with the relevant conference
administrator, the person or court that made the referral, the child who is
the subject of the conference, a person responsible for the child and any
victim, and
(b) advise any victim of the victim's right to attend and to be
accompanied by a support person or persons or to be represented by a person
chosen by the victim, and
(c) take into account the specific needs of the
child and of any victim.
(3) Before a conference is held, the conference
convenor or conference administrator must give a written notice containing the
following information to the child who is the subject of the conference--
(a)
the offence or offences in respect of which the conference is to be held,
(b)
the child's right to have a person responsible for the child, or an adult
chosen by the child, present at the conference,
(c) the date, time and place
of the conference,
(d) the name of the conference convenor,
(e) any
requirements to be met by the child,
(f) the consequences of failure to
attend the conference,
(g) the right of the child to obtain legal advice and
where that advice may be obtained,
(h) the right of the child to elect that
the matter be dealt with by a court if the child does not wish to proceed with
the conference.
(4) Before a conference is held, the conference convenor must
take all reasonable steps to notify any other persons who are entitled to
attend, or who the convenor determines are to be invited to attend, of the
date, time and place of the conference.
(5) Before a conference is held, the
conference convenor must take all reasonable steps to provide persons who are
to attend the conference with information available to the convenor that, in
the convenor's opinion, will be needed to reach a decision about the matter.
(6) Before a conference is held, a conference convenor must ascertain, if
practicable, the views about the matter of any persons who have been invited
to attend but have advised that they will not be attending.