17Procedure at community conference

17 Procedure at community conference

(1)  The facilitator must ensure that all persons attending a community conference understand its nature, purpose and consequences.

(2)  In deciding an appropriate sanction, a community conference is to consider –

(a) the objectives specified in section 4 and the principles specified in section 5 ; and

(b) the sanctions imposed by courts, community conferences and police officers on youths in respect of similar offences if that information is readily available to the community conference.

(3)  If practicable, a community conference should reach a decision on the sanctions to be imposed on a youth by consensus.

(4)  A community conference fails to reach a decision unless all the following persons agree to the imposition of a sanction:

(a) the youth;

(b) the police officer or representative of the Commissioner of Police;

(c) if the victim is present at the conference, the victim.

(5)  If the facilitator considers it appropriate, the facilitator may adjourn a community conference from time to time and from place to place.