Young Offenders Act 1997

A conference convenor must conduct a conference in a way that best assists the reaching of an agreement about an outcome plan in relation to the child and the offence concerned that complies with this Act and the regulations.

The participants at a conference may regulate the procedure at a conference as they think fit, subject to any guidelines prepared by the Secretary under section 49.

If the conference convenor is of the opinion that the presence of a person (other than the child or any victim) may frustrate the purpose or conduct of a conference, or is otherwise not in the best interests of the child, the convenor may, having regard to the views of the child, exclude that person from attending the conference at all or may, during the course of the conference, exclude the person from continuing to attend the conference.

A conference must not make a recommendation or decision if the child denies committing the offence during the conference.

The conference convenor must, at or before a conference, notify the participants of the views of any person invited to attend but unable to do so, if the convenor is aware of those views.

A conference may be adjourned—

at any time with the consent of the participants, or

at the request of the child, to allow discussions between the child and the child’s family or the child and a person responsible for the child.

A conference must, if practicable, be concluded not later than 7 days after it is first convened.

A conference may be held in respect of more than one child at the same time and in respect of more than one offence alleged to have been committed by a child.