Detention and Training Orders
A Detention and Training Order is a Custodial Sentence imposed by the Court for persistent or serious offending.
It can last between four and twenty four months.
You will serve half of your sentence in Custody and half in the Community under supervision by your Youth Offending Service worker.
What does it mean?
It means that the Court has viewed your offending as serious/persistent and only a Custodial Sentence is appropriate at this stage.
You will also be required to engage in a restorative process which will be victim led, and may include mediation and/or reparation in the form of voluntary work in the local area as a form of community payback. This will be organised for you by the Youth Offending Service Restorative Justice Team.
A detailed plan of what will be done during your Order will be agreed by your Youth Offending Service worker and the Custodial Unit. This is called a Training and Supervision Plan.
There will be a Pre-Release meeting within 10 days of your release when a contract will be drawn up, outlining the expectations upon you in the community. This is called a Licence and you need to abide by the conditions outlined within it or you will be returned to Court and may be retuned to the Establishment to serve more time.
What part do I play in the Order?
Under a Detention and Training Order you will have to:
- Work on the targets and goals agreed in your plan
- Attend your review meetings whilst in Custody
- On release into the Community, you must see your Youth Offending Service worker on the day you are released
- Attend twice weekly appointments for the first three months and then at least once every two weeks
- Act responsibly whilst on supervision in your community and when attending for any appointments
- Take part in Reparation activities as arranged for you by the YOS Restorative Justice Team
- Keep to any additional requirements that have been agreed in your Training and
- Supervision Plan and continue to work on your targets and aims
What else can I be asked to do?
Other conditions may be attached to your Order. These will be explained to you separately by your YOS worker
Who will know I'm under supervision?
Under the Supervision part of your Order there will be times when your Youth Offending Service worker will visit you at home and discuss your progress with your parents/carers. You may also be referred to see one of the YOS partner workers for help with a particular problem e.g. drugs, health, accommodation or employment/training.
You may also be expected to participate in a group programme run by YOS workers to address aspects of your offending behaviour.
It may also be helpful to talk to your school, youth club, or employer. You will be asked what you think about this before it happens.
What can go wrong?
If you do not co-operate with your Youth Offending Service worker you will be taken back to Court for being in breach of the Detention and Training Order.
If the breach is proved, the Court may then deal with you in some other way, such as:
- Detain you in Custody for a period of three months or until the end of the Order, whichever is the shorter
- Impose a fine
What if I do well?
If your Order is for more than eight months you may be released up to two months early depending on your progress. If you are considered for early release, you would need to agree to be ‘tagged’ and subject to electronic monitoring. Your parent(s)/carer(s) would have to agree to the installation of the equipment and sign the form at the Pre-Release meeting.