The Legal Aid HotLine for under 18s operates from 9am to midnight Monday to Friday and 12 noon to midnight
on weekends.
The under 18s HotLine is a legal advice line which has been set up by NSW Legal Aid.
Qualified, experienced criminal lawyers with expertise in juvenile justice and the
Young Offenders Act will be available to provide advice to all young people
who have committed, or are suspected of committing, a criminal offence. Under the
Young Offenders Act, young people have the right to this advice before they
make an admission or a statement to the police.
The HotLine for under 18s is an extension of the Legal Aid HelpLine. Legal Aid
HelpLine 1800 806 913 from 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday.
The Young Offenders Act
The Young Offenders Act NSW 1997 is a system of warnings, cautions
and conferences for young people who the police suspect have committed an
offence. These are called 'court-diversionary programs' which means that young people
who can be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act may not have to go to
court for their offence.
Young People's options under the Young Offenders Act
A warning can be given to young people for minor summary offences with no
violence or related issues. It can be given on the spot by police officers and the young person's name
can be recorded.
A caution is a formal warning, where the details of the young person are recorded.
This is given for more serious offences. The young person has to admit to the offence
and has to agree to be dealt with by a caution, but before they admit to the offence
or agree to a caution they are entitled to receive legal advice.
A Youth Justice Conference can be appropriate where the offence is serious
and where a victim has suffered harm at the hands of the young person. The decision
to have a conference can be made by the Department of Public Prosecutions, a
court, a Juvenile Justice Conference Administrator or the NSW Police Specialist Youth Officer. Police will inform young people
if they can be dealt with by way of a conference. As with a caution, the young person
must first admit to the offence, and then attend a conference with the victim
of their crime. The young person and the victim must agree to an outcome plan to
rectify or compensate for the harm suffered by the victim.
Young people do not have to agree to be interviewed or discuss their case with
police until they have spoken with a lawyer.
Young people have a right to remain silent. |
