Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 Explanatory Notes

Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008

2008 CHAPTER 4

The Act

Commentary on Sections

Part 4: Other Criminal Justice Provisions

Section 48: Alternatives to prosecution for offenders under 18

343. Subsection 1 gives effect to Schedule 9 which makes provision for Youth Conditional Cautions. Similar provision for adult conditional cautions is made in Part 3 of the 2003 Act, as amended by sections 17 and 18 of the Police and Justice Act 2006. The Schedule also amends section 65 of the 1998 Act which relates to reprimands and final warnings.

344. Subsection (2) provides the Secretary of State with the power (subject to the affirmative resolution procedure) to amend the provisions in new sections 66A-66H of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 in respect of youth conditional cautions for those aged 15 and under. This is necessary because the needs and specific requirements of those aged 10-15 are likely to be different from those aged 16 and 17. Subsequent to consultation on the younger age range, it may be necessary to amend the provisions on youth conditional cautions for this age group.