The Southampton Youth Offending Team which works with young offenders aged between 10 and 17, is looking for more local people to participate in their successful Referral Order Panel Scheme.

Referral Orders are for most young offenders appearing in court for the first time and pleading guilty. These Orders largely replaced Conditional Discharges and Fines.

Within 20 days of being made subject to Referral Order, young people and their parent or guardian appear before a Youth Offender Panel to agree a contract to prevent them re-offending.

Each Youth Offender Panel must have two trained local volunteers as well as a member from the Youth Offending Team who ensure that each contract makes amends either directly or indirectly to the victim of the crime. This can take the form of a personal apology to the victim or putting right any damage done, for example to the victims property.

If this is not possible then the Panel members will agree work with the young person that will be of benefit to their local community. Those young offenders who do not comply with the contract are sent back to court.

There are currently 20 local people who serve as panel members and more are now needed. Sue Cadman, one of the Referral Order Co-ordinators for the Isle of Wight, said;

"Local people using their local knowledge and skills to stop young people from their area getting into further trouble and to enable them to channel their energies more positively are the key to the success of Youth Offender Panels"

A further training course for new Panel members is planned to start soon.
For further details contact The Youth Offending Team at 33, Selborne Avenue, Southampton, SO18 5DZ, 8046 3336.