Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO)

This page contains everything you need to know about Youth Rehabilitation Orders. Information for parents is also located on this page.

• What is a Youth Rehabilitation Order?
• What happens when a YRO is imposed?
• What happens during the order?
• What happens if the young person fails to comply with the Order?
• What is expected of Parents or Guardians?

What is a Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO)?

A Youth Rehabilitation Order is an order imposed by the Courts on a young person aged between 10-17 years who offends. The YRO is a customised community sentence designed to address offending behaviour.

The aims of the Order are:

• To address the causes of offending and to prevent the young person from re-offending by providing an intensive period of Supervision.
• To encourage and assist the young person in his/her development towards a responsible & law-abiding life, thereby promoting the welfare of the young person.
• To involve and encourage the parents, guardians, family or other carers in the supervision of the young person during the period of the order.
• To make the young person aware of the impact of crime upon their victims, the community, the family and the young person himself / herself.

 
Youth Rehabilitation Order – Intensive Supervision and Surveillance (ISS).

A court can sentence a young person to a Youth Rehabilitation Order with ISS when it is dealing with an offence so serious that, but for an ISS, a custodial sentence would be appropriate.  A YRO with ISS includes an extended activity requirement and will include a Supervision Requirement, a Curfew Requirement and an Electronic Monitoring Requirement.  This is the most intensive order a court can impose.

What happens when a YRO is imposed?

A meeting will be arranged for the young person and family to attend the Youth Offending Team Centre in the Law Courts, Glebeland Place, Merthyr Tydfil, when the planning will begin for the Order.

 
During the period of the Order, the young person will have to do all or some of the following:

• Attend the YOT offices for Supervision.
• Comply with any educational arrangements.
• Stay away from particular places.
• Reparation.
• Take part in activities as outlined in the plan.
• If the Court requests it, to attend a Review Hearing. 
• This Order will involve regular contact with a designated Youth Offending Team Officer.

 

What happens during the Order?

During the Youth Rehabilitation Order, the Young Person will be expected to:

• Notify his / her Youth Offending Team Officer of any change of address / circumstances.
• Attend as required and on time for appointments.
• Inform his / her Youth Offending Team Officer if they are unable to attend for any reason.

What happens if the Young Person fails to comply with the Order?

If the young person fails to attend and participate without reasonable excuse, on the first occasion a warning letter will be sent.  On the second occasion, the Youth Offending Team Officer is obliged to start Breach Proceedings.  This will mean a return to Court, where the Young Person can be re-sentenced for the original offence.

What is expected of parents / family / carers?

Parents & Guardians are expected to assist the young person in the following ways:

• Ensure that the young person attends all appointments and inform the Youth Offending Team if they are unable to attend. 
• To work with the Youth Offending Team Officer in supervising the young person in the community.
• To engage in family work in relation to the young person’s offending behaviour.
• To attend meetings and review as required.