Role of responsible adult
30 Role of responsible adult
Before it deals with a young person for an offence, a juvenile justice team is to give to a responsible adult notice that it proposes to deal with the young person for the offence, and it can only proceed if a responsible adult is present and has indicated agreement with the proposal and a willingness to participate in the proceedings as the team sees fit.
If a responsible adult is present at the proceedings, a matter can only be disposed of by the team in a way to which the responsible adult agrees.
If the team considers the young person to be an independent young person, it may dispense with the requirements of subsection (1).
If the team is satisfied that —
after reasonable enquiry, neither the whereabouts nor the address of a responsible adult can be ascertained; or
in the circumstances it would be inappropriate to give a responsible adult notice,
the team may appoint a person satisfying the requirements of subsection (5) to act in place of a responsible adult and the person is to be regarded as a responsible adult for the purposes of the proceedings.
A person appointed under subsection (4) is required to be an adult who, although not a responsible adult, is the young person’s parent, relative, or employer, or any other person who appears to be in a position to both influence the conduct of the young person and provide the young person with support and direction.
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