Children and young people

Bail supervision is to help the person concerned to comply with the bail conditions, keep out of trouble and as a result keep out of custody.

Both the magistrates and crown courts can use the service as an alternative to custody or local authority secure accommodation.

Those who could be suitable for the scheme are assessed by the bail supervision co-ordinator.

Who can come under the service?

A young person aged from 10 up to 18 years who has been charged with an offence and is subject to proceedings in a criminal court.

When is it used?

The Bail Act 1976 states that bail will always be granted unless the court has good reason to believe that the young person concerned will:

• commit further offences while on bail,
• interfere with witnesses to an offence,
• obstruct the course of justice,
• fail to answer bail.

If appropriate, the bail supervision service will be used in preference to sending a young person into custody.

What does this mean for them?

If the court thinks that they will not comply with the terms of the Bail Act 1976, it will impose conditions on their bail as a means of avoiding sending them to secure accommodation or custody.

One of these conditions can be that they co-operate with the bail supervision service. They will be given a programme of bail conditions specifically designed to keep them out of trouble while waiting to appear in court.

They will be introduced to a bail supervisor who will see them on a regular basis and make sure that they keep to all the conditions. These can include:

• having a curfew imposed, which can be monitored by electronic tag or voice tracking;
• seeking help with drug or alcohol problems;
• taking part in job searches, education, training or leisure activities.

Bail supervision is offered as an alternative to custody and if offenders fail to comply, they can be sent to a prison or secure accommodation.

What are the benefits of the service?

Bail supervision is designed to reduce the number of offences being committed while young people are waiting to appear in court and at the same time keep young people out of custody or secure accommodation.

Keeping to a bail supervision programme can also show the court that a young person is serious about wanting to change and could influence the court as to whether to send them to prison or not when they are sentenced.

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