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The range of sentences

Community sentencing uses a number of ways to punish those who are found guilty of minor crimes without sending them to prison. The length of the sentence will depend on how serious the crime was.

People under the age of 18 are called young offenders by the police and the courts. There are a range of community sentences that can be handed out, all of which concentrate on making sure that they do not offend again.

Reprimands, warnings and referral orders

If you're under 18 and you're found guilty of a minor crime, you may receive a reprimand or a warning from the police. This means that a note will be added to your police record.

The police will consider a number of things before deciding what punishment you'll receive. These include:

You're likely to be contacted by your local Youth Offending Team if you receive a final warning or a reprimand. They'll work with you to find out the reasons why you're offending and come up with an action plan to help you stop doing it again. 

If it is your first offence, you could get a referral order, where the court will refer you to a youth offender panel made up of at least two volunteers from your community and a member of the Youth offending team.

Further offences

Someone who has received a reprimand or warning before is more likely to be formally charged than someone who has committed their first offence.

For second or third offences, you may receive an Action Plan Order or a Supervision Order.  The Action Plan Order lasts for three months and you'll have to repair the damage you did to your local area or other activities related to your offence.

The Supervision Order can last up to three years and will put you under the supervision of a youth offending team. A range of conditions may be attached to this order which may include a curfew or attending anger management courses and counselling.

Serious or persistent offenders

If you are found guilty of a serious crime, or a large number of different crimes over a short period of time, you may be put on an Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP). This is a more intensive form of rehabilitation, where you may be asked to wear an electronic tag that monitors where you are and what you're doing.

You'll also have to spend up to 25 hours per week doing activities to help you get back into education or work.

• More information about ISSPs from the Youth Justice Board Opens new window

16 and 17 year olds

There are also two sentences that can be given people aged 16 or 17.

Community punishment

A community punishment order is given to 16 or 17 year olds who are found guilty of crimes that have harmed their local community. This could mean anything from causing criminal damage to local playgrounds or shopping centres to minor theft.

If you receive this order, you'll have to spend between 40 and 240 hours doing unpaid work for the community. The exact length of time will be decided by the judge or magistrate in court depending on how serious the crime was. The work could involve clearing litter, gardening in local parks, or removing graffiti.

Community rehabilitation

The community rehabilitation order is also given to offenders who are 16 or 17 years old. It involves regular supervision from a probation officer or someone from a local Youth Offending Team.

This order can last for up to three years and may have other conditions attached to it. For example, you may have to attend anger management and counselling sessions or repay your debt to the victim of your crime in some way.

• More about the sentences, orders and agreements available for young people Opens new window

Criminal records

If you receive a fine, warning or reprimand, you won't get a criminal record. Instead a note will be added to your police record that lasts for five years or until you're 18 (whichever is the longest period of time).

If you come to the end of a community rehabilitation or community punishment order without committing any further offences, your conviction will be spent after five years, or two and a half years if you were under 18. That means that it will not be included on a basic criminal record check if you're applying for a job.

If you're looking for work that will involve working with children, your employer will have to carry out a more in-depth check on your record. An intermediate or enhanced record check will show all criminal convictions and police warnings, including fines and reprimands. However, all employers will still have to decide whether the details of your record are still relevant and they may affect your application for the job.