Surrey Youth Justice Service

A youth justice system that sees children as children, treats them fairly, and helps them build on their strengths so they can make a positive contribution to society.

The Youth Justice Service (YJS) in Surrey supports children aged 10 to 17 who have come into contact with the police or courts.

We work with children, families, victims and partner organisations to:

• Support children to make safer choices
• Support wellbeing, education and future goals
• Repair harm and build positive relationships

Our message

We believe every child has strengths, potential, and a right to be understood and supported. We are proud of the strengths children show and the positive contributions they make to their communities.

Page contents

• Our priorities
• How and when we get involved
• Court and what happens next
• How we support victims of crime
• What happens when young people turn 18?
• How we work with families
• Useful Links and Support
• How to contact us and feedback

Our priorities

We follow national Youth Justice Board (YJB) priorities and local Surrey plans.

National priorities

• Reduce reoffending
• Reduce children entering the justice system for the first time
• Reduce the number of children in custody

Our Surrey approach

• Children are children first
• We focus on strengths, not labels
• We work with families and communities
• We listen and respond to children’s voices
• We aim to keep children safe and reduce harm

We do not work alone. We work closely with Schools and colleges, Health and mental health services, Children’s Social Care, Police and courts, Substance use services and Community organisations

This means:

• Support is joined up
• Families don’t have to manage services alone
• We understand the full picture of a child’s life

We regularly review our performance, listen to feedback from children, families and victims, and improve how we work.

How and when we become involved

We may become involved when:

• A child is arrested or asked to attend a voluntary interview at a police station
• A child receives an Out of Court Resolution (OOCR)
• A child goes to court or receives a sentence

If you are arrested

You may be arrested and taken to a police station, or asked to attend a voluntary interview. During this process, you will be told your rights and what is happening.

Appropriate Adult (AA)

If you are under 18, you have the right to an Appropriate Adult and one should be present. This could be a parent, carer, or trained volunteer. Their role is to make sure you are treated fairly, understand what is happening, and are supported.

The police must arrange one if needed.

You also have the right to have a lawyer (solicitor) present at the police station or in court. This is free, and we strongly recommend that all children and families get legal advice so you understand your options.

A solicitor will:

• Explain your options
• Speak on your behalf

Your rights: Stop and Search

If police stop and search you:

• They must explain why
• Treat you with respect
• Offer a record of the search

Out of Court Resolutions (OOCRs)

OOCRs are used to deal with some situations without going to court. We will support a child through a 12-week programme, which may include:

• Work to understand what has happened and support positive choices
• Reparation and restorative justice
• Support to access constructive activities
• Education, training and employment support
• Substance use intervention
• Support with emotional health

As part of this, children may take part in community reparation activities.

OOCRs can appear on an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if relevant. This is considered on a case by case depending on the role applied for.

If you receive an OOCR

A Youth Justice worker will meet with you and your family to understand what has happened and what support you might need. Together, you will agree a plan that focuses on helping you move forward, repair harm, and build on your strengths.

Community reparation (making things right)

Community reparation gives children the chance to:

• Give something back
• Repair harm and build positive connections
• Learn new skills
• Build confidence

Examples in Surrey

• Bike project - repairing bikes for community use
• Carpentry workshop - learning practical skills
• Community projects - improving local spaces

These activities help children feel proud and build positive futures. This artwork is an illustration of this:

The young person who created it stated:

This artwork represents my personal journey and contact with the youth justice system. It is divided into two parts to show a transformation:

​The left side reflects the difficult emotions I faced at the beginning, like fear, sadness, and anger, when feeling like a "failure."

​The center and right side represent hope and the turning point. The main message, "See me not my mistakes," is a reminder that we are more than our past. It shows the positive change that happens when a young person is truly seen, heard, and given a voice for the future.

Court and what happens next

If a case goes to court, outcomes may include:

How we support victims of crime

We also play an important role in ensuring that victims of crime are supported, informed, and given a voice throughout the youth justice process.

We recognise the impact that crime can have on individuals, families, and communities. Our approach focuses on keeping victims at the centre, helping to address the harm caused and reduce the likelihood of further offending.

What We Offer

• Information and updates - Victims are kept informed about the progress of the case, where appropriate, including key outcomes and interventions.
• Opportunity to have your voice heard - Victims can share how the offence has affected them through a Victim Personal Statement or other agreed methods.
• Restorative justice options - Where suitable and with full consent, we offer restorative approaches such as letters, indirect communication, or face-to-face meetings. These allow victims to ask questions, express their feelings, and receive an acknowledgement of harm.
• Emotional support and signposting - We provide support directly and can connect victims to specialist services for additional help where needed.
• A focus on repairing harm - We work with children and young people who have offended to help them understand the consequences of their actions, take responsibility, and make amends.

The Victims’ Code (Code of Practice for Victims of Crime) sets out the rights that victims are entitled to receive and the support services available.

What happens when young people turn 18?

If a child is getting close to turning 18, we will help them prepare for moving into adult services (Probation).

We will:

• Start planning early so there are no surprises
• Work closely with Probation and other services
• Share important information (with consent)
• Help the young person understand what will change and what will stay the same

We support children to:

• Feel confident about the transition
• Understand their new responsibilities
• Stay engaged with support
• Continue working towards their goals

In some cases, where it is appropriate and there is only a short period of time left on a court order, we may continue to work with the young person after their 18th birthday to provide stability and continuity of support.

This helps make sure the transition is safe, planned, and supportive.

How we work with families

We:

• Work alongside parents and carers
• Provide advice and support
• Keep families informed

What children, families and victims say about us

These are some of the things children, families and victims have shared about their experiences with us:

Children say:

• "I wanted to thank you for all you’ve done for me. I feel I have made some positive changes to my life".
• "My worker has been really supportive of me, no one has ever listened before".
• "I feel remorse… my aim is now to focus on myself".

Families say:

• "As a mum, I felt the practitioner was brilliant. My child felt heard, not judged".
• "From the first moment of contact, my worker went above and beyond… she supported me just as much as my son".
• "The bike project transformed my son’s confidence and skills… it led to a part-time job and college course".

Victims and families of victims say:

"You have been a constant, checking in and supporting us through a really difficult time".

We use this feedback through our “You said, We did” approach to improve our service.

How we keep improving

We improve by:

• Following national guidance (YJB, MoJ)
• Monitoring performance and outcomes
• Listening to children, families and victims
• Learning from inspections and research

Who oversees our work (governance)

National

• Youth Justice Board (YJB) – sets standards
• Ministry of Justice (MoJ) – sets law and policy

Local

• Surrey Youth Justice Management Board
  • Oversees the service
  • Includes police, education, health
  • Monitors performance and outcomes

Useful Links and Support

How to contact us and feedback

For general queries, advice or support:

Telephone: 01483 517000

Comments, compliments and complaints

We welcome your feedback.

You can:

• Tell us what we are doing well
• Suggest improvements
• Make a complaint if something has gone wrong

Share your feedback