Appearing in The Youth Court

If you have been summoned to appear before The Youth Court for a criminal offence you will have been notified of the time and date to attend.

A child or young person appearing in the Youth Court is entitled to free legal representation under the Legal Aid Scheme, please see www.legalaid.je.

The court day starts at 10.00 a.m. and you should be in the Court building by 9.30 a.m. You should dress as smartly as you can and be tidy in your appearance. As a guide, children and young people who are at school might wear school uniform or similar. Some items of clothing are not generally allowed in court, such as a hat or hood. Please follow the advice of the Ushers.

Every child or young person should sit next to their parent or guardian and in front of their lawyer. An Usher will show people where to sit at the front of the court. No child or young person is placed in the dock.

The law restricts the number of people who may be present in the Youth Court to members of the court and officials; defendants and their lawyers; the media and those specifically authorised by the Court to be present, following an application.

If a child or young person, or their parent or guardian needs an interpreter, they should tell the lawyer representing them to tell the court, or if there is no lawyer, they should tell the Centenier to tell the court.

If for a good reason a child or young person is unable to attend, they should contact the court immediately so that alternative arrangements can be made, please see the contact details below.

As you walk into the Magistrate’s Court Building on the left-hand side there is a desk where the Ushers sit. Everyone should report to the Usher on the desk, who will note attendance and will tell you in which of the courtrooms your case is being heard. The Usher will show you to a waiting room.

The Usher will tell you when your case is called. Follow the Usher into the courtroom and stand where they show you. There are some items that are not allowed in the courtrooms; there is a notice about this outside the courtrooms. You should turn your mobile phone off.

In the courtroom the Magistrate will ask your name, date of birth and address. What happens next will depend on what the hearing is for. All decisions made by The Youth Court will be explained at the hearing in everyday language.