How does the youth justice system work?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how the youth justice system works in the UK.
Key learning points
- Youth courts handle 10-17-year-olds and have different processes to adult court. Some cases are sent to the crown court.
- Youth courts balance punishment with safeguarding the welfare of the child and preventing re-offending.
- Differences include: courtroom layout, less formal proceedings, reporting restrictons and additonal checks.
- Due to devolution, England and Wales have a separate criminal justice system, including youth justice, from Scotland.
Keywords
Court - a formal legal institution where disputes are heard and resolved, and where justice is administered according to the law
Magistrate - a judicial officer who hears cases in a lower court, typically dealing with more minor offences
Offender - a person who has violated a law, regulation, or rule and is subject to legal or disciplinary punishment
Sentence - to impose a punishment for an offender
Common misconception
Young people are tried in the same courts as adults.
Young people are tried in a youth court, except for offences that are considered to be too serious.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to compare and contrast the youth justice systems in England, Wales and Scotland through discussion. This helps them critically evaluate different approaches to youth justice and understand the impact of legal systems on young offenders.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who brings the case in a criminal law court?
Q2.Match the word to its correct definition.
law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups
law that deals with individuals who break the law and seeks to punish
an act or behaviour that violates a law and is punishable by the law
Q3.Which courts can be used for both criminal and civil cases?
Q4.Which of the following is true regarding criminal and civil law?
Q5.In a civil law case, the person who brings the case is called the ...
Q6.In both criminal and civil law, the person charged with an offence is called the ...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word to its correct definition.
a formal legal institution where disputes are heard and resolved
to impose a punishment for an offender
a person who has violated a law, regulation, or rule
Q2.Who am I describing? A judicial officer who hears cases in a lower court, typically dealing with more minor offences.
Q3.Which statement accurately describes youth courts?
Q4.What is the main focus of youth courts?
Q5.Which of the following is a key difference between adult and youth courts?
Q6.Which of the following statements is correct regarding the criminal justice system in the UK?
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: How does the youth justice system work?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: How does the youth justice system work?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 citizenship lessons from the What are the strengths and weaknesses of the legal system? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.