Youth Offending Service - a guide for young people

What are Out of Court Disposals?

Out of Court Disposals

The police and the YOS will read the assessment that your allocated youth offending officer has written about you at an ‘Out of Court Panel’.

There might be other professionals at the panel if they can help you and your parents/carers.

The Panel will decide on one of these outcomes:

  • No Further Action - Your case will be closed but with your consent, we might pass your details to other agencies to support you.
  • Community Resolution - This will normally involve asking you to do something to ‘put right’ the harm that you have caused. This is called Restorative Justice. It will take into account the views of the victim.
  • Outcome 22 (No Further Action) - This is officially No Further Action, but the Panel will ask you to work with the youth offending team, voluntarily, for up to 12 weeks. This might mean attending appointments with YOS or other support services. You do not need to admit guilt for the offence for this outcome.
  • Outcome 22 (Deferred Prosecution) - This is officially a deferred prosecution, and you will have to take responsibility for the crime. The Panel will ask you to work with YOS, for up to 12 weeks. This might mean attending appointments with a YOS officer or other support services.
  • Youth Caution - If you admit guilt for the offence, the police will give you a Youth Caution. You will have to sign the caution, to confirm you have agreed. This is the end of the matter and you do not have meet the police or the YOS We might ask you to voluntarily meet with the YOS if we think we could help you.
  • Youth Conditional Caution - The police will give you a caution, but there are conditions that you must meet with YOS for up to 12 weeks (this can sometimes be for up to 20 weeks). The YOS will write a plan with you. If you do not finish all the work in the plan, it might mean you have to go to court to have a more serious outcome.
  • Charge to Court - The panel might decide that your crime is so serious, that they cannot decide what the outcome should be. You will have to go to court for your case to be heard.