Are you in contact with Youth Justice?

If you’ve been arrested, spoken to by police, or asked to go to court, you might be referred to the Youth Justice Service.  They need to find out from you:

• Your side of what happened.
• Explain what’s going on and what your options are.
• Find out what support would help you stay out of trouble.
• Agree on the next steps together.

A Youth Justice Practitioner will meet with you and ask some questions. The Practitioner will also speak to your parent(s) or carer(s).  This is written up in an assessment and sometimes a report.

We want to understand you, not just the behaviour that got you into trouble. So, we might ask about:

How we can help you make things right and keep others safe.

• What happened and what was going on for you at the time. What were you thinking and feeling when the offence happened.

• What do you think and feel about the offence now.

• What are your thoughts and feelings about the victim, or people effected.

• Home life, school or college, and anything that’s tough right now.

• What you’re good at, what you enjoy, and your hopes for the future.

• What helps you feel safe and calm and how we can help improve this.

We want to help you move towards the life you want. Together, we might:

Help you build healthy relationships that keep you and others safe.

Build your skills and confidence.

Connect you with activities you enjoy.

Support your goals and values.

We use something called the AIR model to help you think about your life, your choices, and your future. It stands for:

A – Activities

These are the things you do every day — like hobbies, sports, clubs, or helping out at home. We help you find positive activities that you enjoy and that help you feel good about yourself.

“What you do shapes how you feel about yourself.”

I – Interactions

These are the moments you share with people who make you feel supported — friends, trusted adults, and others in your community. When you’re around people who treat you with respect and believe in you, it becomes easier to believe in yourself too.

“Who you connect with shapes who you become.”

R – Roles

These are the parts you play in life — like being a friend, student, sibling, or teammate. We help you take on positive roles that make you feel proud and connected to others.

“You can choose the kind of person you want to be.”

This model helps us work with you to build a stronger, safer, and more positive future — one step at a time.

If someone was harmed, we can help you make amends through restorative approaches, like:

Doing a project that helps others.

Understanding how others were affected.

Writing a letter or message to explain or say sorry (if it’s right for you).

Doing reparation – useful work that helps repair the harm.

Sometimes, having a safe, supported meeting with the person affected (only if everyone agrees).

Depending on what you need, we can help with:

• Restorative and reparation activities to make amends.

• Getting back into education, training or work.

• Support with emotions, stress or mental health.

• Making safe choices around friends, places and online life.

• Help with drugs or alcohol if needed.

• Practical support with family, housing or money.
  
  
• Restorative and reparation activities to make amends.

You might be supported by Youth Justice through one of these:

1. Out of Court Resolutions

You don’t go to court. Instead, we work with you to understand what happened and help you make better choices.

2. Court Order

If you go to court and the Magistrates or Judge gives you a Court Order to follow, we help you make a plan that helps you keep out of trouble.

3. Targeted Intervention

You might not have been in trouble with the police, but you might be at risk of this. We work with you early to help you stay safe, keep others safe and avoid future trouble.

You have the right to be treated fairly and with respect.

You can have an Appropriate Adult at the police station.

You can speak to a solicitor for free.

If you don’t understand something, ask – we’ll explain it again in a way that works for you.

You can ask for adjustments (like breaks, easy-read info, a quieter room, or an interpreter).

If you’re unsatisfied with the Suffolk Youth Justice Service, you can make a complaint.

More information:

• The Youth Justice Charter explains your rights in the youth justice system. (Easy read version available through the link).
• The Victims’ Code (U18) information on the support available if you are a victim of crime.

Here are some of the friendly specialists who might support you:

Speech and Language Therapist – Helps you if talking or understanding words is tricky.

Turning Point Worker – Supports you with drug or alcohol problems.

Primary Mental Health Worker – Helps if you’re feeling anxious, sad or overwhelmed.

Educational Psychologist – Supports you with learning or emotional challenges at school.

Education, Training and Employment Worker – Helps you find the right school, college or job.

Restorative Justice Practitioner – Helps you understand the impact of what happened and make things right.

Restorative Approaches & Unpaid Work Co-ordinator – Organises activities that help you give back and learn new skills.

Talk to your Youth Justice Support worker or a trusted adult.

If you need urgent help, call 999 in emergency situations like the below

• there is an immediate danger to life
• someone is using violence or is threatening to be violent
• a road traffic collision where life is at risk, or the road is blocked
• a crime is happening right now, like a house burglary or a theft

You can call 999 for police, ambulance or the fire service.

If you accidentally dial 999, stay on the line and tell the operator you’re safe and that you don’t need emergency services.

If you have been working with the Youth Justice Service and were unhappy with the service, you have a right to complain to the Head of Service Manager, Cath Bennett.

If you wish to make a complaint, please phone Cath on 01473 260110 or email [email protected].

You can also make a complaint on our Compliments and complaints page.

You can use your strengths and experience to help others.

If you’re in school or college:

• Learn about young people’s rights and the justice system.
• Volunteer with youth groups or charities.
• Ask about work experience with services that support young people.

If you’re 18 or over:

• You can volunteer as a Referral Order Panel Member.
• Meet with young people and families at a Referral Order Panel Meeting.
• Help agree a plan to repair harm and move forward.
• Work alongside Youth Justice Practitioners and learn new skills.