What are the procedures for minors appearing in court in UK?

Question

At what age are they considered minor? Do they have to have a parent with them? etc.

If they were charged with being drunk what would happen to them?

Answer 1

Children appear in the Youth Court and are treated as 'youths' from 10 to 17 years of age inclusive. Once they reach 18, they are treated as adults.

Things are supposed to be less formal than in the adult court. Defendants are addressed by their first names. They are supposed to have an 'appropriate adult' present with them, usually a parent or guardian as they will usually be responsible for discharging any financial penalties imposed by the court. The identity of the defendant cannot be published by the press without the court's permission.

I do not think there is any charge of simply being drunk - is it drunk and disorderly or drunk and incapable? If the child has no previous convictions, it may be possible to persuade the prosecutor to refer the case back to the police for a reprimand or final warning. If it is the first conviction, then the magistrates will be looking at a referral order; once it is completed, it does not rank as a conviction and does not have to be disclosed. If the child has previous convictions, then (s)he is probably facing a financial penalty or possibly something like an attendance centre order at worst. Unless there is something more, the 2 drunk offences I have mentioned do not carry a custodial sentence.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

Until they are ten years old they are normally considered to be below the age of criminal responsibility and too young to be charged with any offence. (There have been rare exceptions among child murderers.) They appear in the youth court until they are eighteen (or in respect of any offence with which they were charged while still under the age of 18). A parent or guardian is expected to come to court with them. They would be tried for an offence of being drunk in a public place (or whatever offence you are referring to) in the same way as an adult would, but there are a few procedural differences. No member of the public not having involvement with the case would be admitted to the court. It is highly unusual for a person of under 18 to be charged with an alcohol related offence and the court would be anxious to refer him to the Youth Offending Team (who would be represented in court) for treatment and supervision. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_Offen...