After your child attends court
Once a court hearing has ended, a Youth Justice officer talks to you and your child about what happens next.
Depending on what the court has decided, you and your child may have to sign paperwork and/or go to a youth justice service centre near you. You can check with court staff if you need to wait for paperwork.
If the case is not finalised, you’ll have to come back to court another day.
Bail
When a case is not finalised, most young people are granted bail so they can go home until they have to attend court again. If your child is given bail, your child must sign bail before they leave – further penalties can apply if they don’t.
It’s very important that your child complies with any bail conditions. If they don’t, they could be arrested or taken to a youth detention centre until their next court date.
Custody
If your child is not granted bail, they’re held in custody in a youth detention centre.
The court might refuse to release your child on bail if they are accused of a serious offence, or they have previously breached bail conditions or failed to show up to court.
Sentence
If the magistrate sentences your child to a detention order, they are taken there from the court.
The court may give your child another type of sentence instead.
Criminal record
If the court finds your child guilty and makes a sentence order, it’s recorded as part of your child’s criminal history and brought up again in any future Childrens Court proceedings.
The magistrate decides whether to record a conviction. If a conviction is not recorded, your child generally won’t have to tell anyone, such as a potential employer, that they have been to court. It’s best to check with a lawyer about what you do and do not have to tell others.
When your child is an adult, the conviction won’t form part of their adult criminal history. However, the conviction may come up in a background check if your child wants to do certain things in the future, like join the army or work with children.
Further information
- Read more about the Childrens Court
- Find legal help for your child
- Find legal help for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Read about how to support someone going through court.
- Read about how you can help and support your child