A youth attendance order is an alternative to detention for children aged 15 years or over at the time of sentencing.
The Children’s Court can order a child on a youth attendance order to attend the youth justice unit of the Department of Justice and Community Safety for a maximum of 12 months. The youth justice unit will specify:
- the number of hours that the child must attend, up to a maximum of 10 hours per week
- the dates and times that the child must attend
- the education and other program activities that the child will participate in, which may include counselling.
Under a youth attendance order, a child must:
- attend the youth justice unit as instructed
- not reoffend
- if directed, complete up to four hours of community service per week
- report any changes of address, school or employment
- comply with any special conditions set by the Children’s Court.
If the child breaches the youth attendance order by reoffending or by not complying with some part of the order, the Children’s Court has the power to:
- vary the order and any conditions
- direct the child to comply with the order
- revoke the order and impose another sentencing order, which could include detention in a youth justice centre for the remaining period of the order.
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