Young offender panel members

What is a Youth Offender Panel?

Youth offender panels are a way of dealing with young people who commit crimes using the local community. Local people will take the lead in challenging young offenders to take responsibility for their actions and help them to change their behaviour for the better.

Panels also give victims a chance to say how the crime has affected them and what might help put things right.

What are Youth Offender Panels for?

These panels are special because they involve local people working with young offenders, their parents and victims. Panel members will talk and listen to these key people and agree with the young offender a plan to put right the harm already done and stop future offending. Panels aim to:

make sure young offenders take responsibility for their behaviour
help put things right for the victim
bring young people back into the law- abiding community

Who will be on the Panels?

Each Panel will have two community members who are volunteers from the local youth justice service.

Who will the panel deal with?

The young person’s parents or other supporter/carer will be there. The victim of the offence will normally be invited to attend and can bring someone with them to support them. If they choose to, they can ask for their views to be taken into account or be represented by someone else at the panel meeting.

We are looking for you!

We need youth offender panel members who can represent their local community. That means men and women of any age (18 or over) and from every ethnic and social background. We want people who are good at listening and talking. So if you have a degree from the University of Life and a Diploma in Common Sense, we’re looking for you!

Will I be trained?

We don’t expect you to have all the skills needed to be a youth offender panel member from the start. We will offer full training which will help you prepare for a challenging but worthwhile task. The initial training will last 1 day, with 6 further days training over a number of weekends. Once you become a panel member you will continue to receive regular training and supervision to support you in your work.

What if I have a criminal record?

Being a youth offender panel member involves working with children and for that reason we are required to carry out a full criminal record check. Previous convictions, especially those which are minor in nature and old, will not automatically bar you from becoming a youth offender panel member.

This is something we can discuss further with you.

How much of my time will it take?

We would expect you to spend about 2 to 3 hours every time you prepared for and sat on a panel. These would usually take place on a
weekday in the early evening and about 12 to 18 times a year.

Will I be paid?

No - community panel members are volunteers. You will not make money from this, but you will not be out of pocket. Travel and childcare costs will be paid.

Where can I find out more?

For further information, please contact your local service manager, contact information to follow.

The North Yorkshire Youth Justice Service is

made up of expert staff from Children’s Social Care, Police, Probation, Education and Health
working in active partnership with local agencies and communities to prevent offending by young people
committed to rigorous National Standards for the supervision and management of young offenders in the community
sensitive to the needs and rights of victims, and working to the Code of Practice for victims of crime
committed to treating all service users with respect, fairness, honesty and dignity
committed to fair treatment regardless of race, religion, culture, disability or sexual orientation

If you would like more information, or if you wish to complain about any YJS service you have received, please write to me at any of the offices.

Andy Dukes
Youth Justice Team Manager

Where to find us

Harrogate Area Offices

Delta House,
12b North Park Road,
Harrogate,
HG1 5PG

Tel: 01609 535030

Oak Beck House

Woodfield Road,
Harrogate,
HG1 4HZ

Tel: 01609 535030

Scarborough Area Office

Castle House,
10-14 Elders Street,
Scarborough,
YO11 1DZ

Tel: 01609 534751

Selby Area Office

Community House (1st Floor),
Portholme Crescent,
Selby,
YO8 4QQ