415Group conference

415 Group conference

S. 415(1) substituted by No. 61/2014 s. 103.

(1) The Court may consider deferral of sentencing for the purpose of a child's participation in a group conference if the Court is considering—

(a) placing the child on probation under section 380; or

(b) releasing the child on a youth supervision order under section 387; or

(c) convicting the child and making a youth attendance order under section 397; or

(d) convicting the child and ordering that the child be detained in a youth residential centre under section 410; or

S. 415(1)(e) amended by No. 43/2017 s. 14(a).

(e) convicting the child and ordering that the child be detained in a youth justice centre under section 412; or

S. 415(1)(f) inserted by No. 43/2017 s. 14(b).

(f) convicting the child and making a youth control order under section 409B.

(2) A group conference must be chaired by a convenor appointed by a service approved under section 480.

(3) The convenor is to fix the date on which and the time and place at which a group conference is to be held.

S. 415(3A) inserted by No. 11/2021 s. 36(1).

(3A) For the purposes of subsection (3), the place at which the group conference is to be held includes a group conference to be held by audio link or audio visual link.

(4) The purpose of a group conference is to facilitate a meeting between the child and other persons (including, if they wish to participate, the victim or their representative and members of the child's family and other persons of significance to the child) which has the following objectives—

(a) to increase the child's understanding of the effect of their offending on the victim and the community;

(b) to reduce the likelihood of the child re‑offending;

(c) to negotiate an outcome plan that is agreed to by the child.

(5) An outcome plan is a plan designed to assist the child to take responsibility and make reparation for his or her actions and to reduce the likelihood of the child re-offending.

(6) A group conference must be attended by—

(b) the child's legal practitioner; and

S. 415(6)(c) amended by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 18.12).

(c) the informant or other police officer; and

(d) the convenor.

(7) A group conference may be attended by—

(a) members of the child's family; and

(b) persons of significance to the child; and

(c) the victim of the offence or the victim's representative; and