The Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998

[F1[F2Community responsibility ordersN.I.

36E—(1) Where a child is found guilty by or before any court of an offence, other than an offence the sentence for which is (in the case of an adult) fixed by law as imprisonment for life, the court (subject to Article 32(1)) may make a community responsibility order.

(2) A community responsibility order is an order requiring the offender—

(a)to attend at a place specified in the order for the number of hours so specified for relevant instruction in citizenship; and

(b)to carry out for the number of hours specified in the order such practical activities as the responsible officer considers appropriate in the light of that instruction.

(3) “Relevant instruction in citizenship”, in relation to an offender, means instruction dealing with—

(a)citizenship (including, in particular, the responsibilities a person owes to the community);

(b)the impact of crime on victims; and

(c)any factors relating to the offender which may cause him to commit offences.

(4) In this Order “responsible officer”, in relation to an offender subject to a community responsibility order, means one of the following who is specified in the order—

(a)a probation officer;

(b)a social worker of the appropriate authority; and

(c)such other person as the Secretary of State may designate.

(5) The number of hours specified under paragraph (2)(a) must be not less than one half of the aggregate number of hours specified in the order.

(6) The aggregate number of hours specified in the order must be—

(a)not less than 20; and

(b)not more than 40.

(7) Where a court makes community responsibility orders in respect of two or more offences of which the offender has been found guilty by or before the court, it may direct that the hours specified in any of those orders be—

(a)concurrent with those specified in any other of those orders; or

(b)additional to those so specified.

(8) But the total number of hours which are not concurrent must not exceed the maximum specified in paragraph (6)(b).

(9) The Secretary of State may by order amend paragraph (6)(a) or (b) (or both).

(10) An order under paragraph (9) is subject to [F3negative resolution].]]