Supervision of community sanctions involving young persons
The requirement to have a range of community based sanctions available to the Courts is an essential component of the Children Act if effect is to be given to the policy of detention being an absolute last resort.
The Act makes provision for ten community sanctions; nine of these involve the Probation Service. Young Persons Probation develops and implements the community sanctions.
These sanctions offer a menu of options to the Court and range in tariff from low to high as outlined below. Many of the community sanctions seek to maintain an educational ethos and to empower parents and families by giving them a role and responsibility in the Court process. Young Persons Probation staff work in conjunction with voluntary and statutory organisations operating in that part of the country, particularly with community based projects that are probation funded and which support the engagement of Probation Officer s with young people.
Imposition of a community sanction can take place when a Court has
· Considered a Probation Officer ’s report
· Heard the evidence of any person whose attendance it may have requested
· Given the parent or guardian an opportunity to give evidence
The following community sanctions are available under the Children Act, 2001 and are the most widely applicable to the Probation Service:
Probation Supervision Order
Community Service Order
Day Centre Order
Probation (training or activities programme) Order
Probation (intensive supervision) Order
Probation (residential supervision) Order
Suitable Person (care and supervision) Order
Mentor (family support) Order
Parental Supervision Order
Deferment of Detention Order
Detention and Supervision Order
Dual Order: This order combines either a standard Probation Order or a Day Centre Order with a restriction on movement such that the child has to be present at a specified residence during night hours or is obliged to stay away from particular premises or localities at specified times, for a maximum period of six months.
Supervision in the community: This refers to the ‘placing out’ of a child from a Children Detention School after consultation with the Director of the Probation Service. The child will be under the supervision of a Probation Officer.
Voluntary Aftercare: This makes provision for voluntary supervision by the Probation Service after discharge from the Children Detention School if it is considered helpful in assisting the child’s reintegration into society.
