Children and young people

Parents may not know what to expect when attending court for the first time. They may be worried about what will happen to their child. Court can be very daunting. It is important to find a solicitor to help them to understand what might happen.

A solicitor

A parent of an accused child should contact a solicitor before a first court appearance and should check to see if they are entitled to legal aid. The solicitor will meet them and their child to give legal advice and discuss the case. The solicitor will advise on what to do and say.

The day of the court appearance

For a morning court appearance parents and child should arrive at court by 9.30am and for an afternoon appearance, 1.30pm.

They should report to the court usher on arrival. The court usher will usually be holding a clipboard and wear a uniform but this varies from court to court. The usher will explain where to wait and in which court the case will be heard. The usher will also ask for the names of those attending and which solicitor is involved.

There is a private room available for the parents, child and solicitor to talk before they go into the courtroom.

Friends and relatives

Friends or relatives may not be able to enter the court. Only parents, carers and close relatives like grandparents, who may be involved in caring for the child, can go into the courtroom.

Inside the courtroom

There will be at least two magistrates, unless there is a district judge in the case, who sits alone, the solicitor, a crown prosecutor and the clerk to the court. There will also be someone from the Youth Offending Team and an usher.

Parents will be shown to a seat and informed when to sit or stand. Their child will be asked their name, address and date of birth.

The clerk may identify the parents and sometimes the magistrates may ask questions. Most information will be given to the court by the solicitor. The parents should ensure they give their solicitor as much information as possible. The magistrate will want to know what they have tried to do to prevent their child from offending.

The decision

The case may be adjourned for many reasons; the magistrate may wish to set a trial date or request reports to be prepared. The parents may have to attend the court several times before the case is finally dealt with. If a report is requested, a member of the Youth Offending Team will talk to them outside the courtroom and explain what will happen.

If the parents or their child are unable to attend on any occasion, they must inform the court. They can do this through their solicitor before the hearing. If they are ill, they may have to produce a doctor’s certificate.

The magistrate may issue a Parenting Order.

^ (back to top)