410Specialist assessment reports

410 Specialist assessment reports

(1) If the Children's Court finds a child guilty of an offence, before passing sentence, it may—

(a) order the Secretary to prepare a specialist assessment report in respect of the child; and

(2) The Children's Court may only make an order under subsection (1) with the consent of the child.

(3) A specialist assessment report must include the matters specified by the Children's Court that the Court considers to be relevant to the proceeding, including any psychological or psychiatric assessment of the child.

(4) A statement made in a specialist assessment report must relate only to the offence to which the child has pleaded guilty or of which the child has been found guilty by the Children's Court.

(5) The Secretary must file a specialist assessment report in the Children's Court not less than 3 working days before the hearing.

The Children's Court Clinic is maintained by the Secretary. The functions of the Children's Court Clinic include submitting reports to courts and other bodies. See section 546 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.