Support with the criminal justice system for care leavers

Need this in a different language?

Use our translation options to change the language.

If you have contact with the police, courts, probation or prisons, we want to help you. We want you to know what happens and what support you can get as a care leaver.

The most important things to remember

  • Tell every professional you meet that you are a care leaver.
  • You can get extra help.
  • Your personal adviser (PA) can help you tell people.

Page contents

If you are a victim of crime

If you are a victim or witness, your PA can help you report it to the police.

Your PA can help you find support.

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime explains what happens after you report a crime.

If you meet the police

  • Tell the police you are a care leaver.
  • Speak to your PA.

If you live in Surrey and break the law, you may be able to join the Checkpoint Plus scheme.

This scheme helps you stay out of court and avoid a criminal record. You work with the police and your PA to get help and reduce the risk of reoffending.

Other police forces may have similar schemes.

Going to court

If you go to court, your PA will help you talk to a solicitor. Your PA can go with you.

What the court can decide

If the court says you are guilty of a crime, it has different options:

You need your case reference number to pay.

You can pay online with a debit or credit card at Pay a court fine (GOV.UK)

You can also pay by phone.

Sometimes, you can pay from your benefits in weekly instalments. The most they can take is £5 a week.

You may need to do unpaid work, like clearing rubbish or removing graffiti.

You may need to work with a specialist or probation, like drug rehabilitation

This means you may get a community sentence and a fine.

This means the court sends you to prison for a set amount of time.

Working with probation

Your PA will offer to support you at your first probation appointment.

If you agree, your PA will work with you and your probation worker.

They will check that you get the help you need to finish your sentence or unpaid work.

Probation offices in Surrey:

  • Guildford: College House, Woodbridge Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4RS. Telephone 01483 534701
  • Staines: Swan House, Knowle Green, Staines, Surrey, TW18 1AJ. Telephone 01784 4593
  • Redhill :Allonby House, Hatchlands Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 6BN. Telephone 01737 763241

If you are in prison

If you are a care leaver aged 25 or under and in prison, your PA will help you in many ways.

Support while you are in prison

  • Arrange a legal visit
  • Tell your landlord or housing provider you are in custody
  • Help you tell your college, training provider or employer
  • Visit you every 2 months until you are 21, and then as agreed in your plan
  • Work with prison staff to support you
  • Your PA will hold pathway planning meetings with you.
  • Arrange money for essentials and keeping in touch with family
  • Encourage you to join education, training and work in prison
  • Refer you to Adult Social Care if you need extra help

Planning for your release

  • Hold meetings to plan for your release
  • Help you plan for release, including housing and benefits
  • Make sure you have suitable clothes and photo ID
  • Offer to collect you on release and help you get to appointments

Resettling into the community

Your criminal record is kept on the Police National Computer and is not public.

Most convictions become ‘spent’ after a set time.

You do not have to tell most employers about spent convictions.

Some employers support people with convictions.

Some jobs need a DBS check, which shows all convictions.

Some courses ask about criminal records, but for many you do not need to tell them about spent convictions.

Some insurance companies charge more or say no if you have unspent convictions.

You must tell them if they ask.

For home insurance, you should also say if anyone living at your address has an unspent conviction, if asked. If you do not tell the insurance company, they may reject any claim you make.

Some countries have rules about criminal records.

You may need a visa. Check with the embassy.

If you are on licence, you need permission from probation to travel.

Translations

Disclaimer: as the translations linked above are provided by Google Translate, Surrey County Council cannot be held responsible for their accuracy.

Did you find this information helpful?

Rating Did you find the information helpful?

We aren't able to reply to individual comments, so please don't include any personal details.