What is an action plan order?
An Action Plan Order is a youth community sentence imposed by the courts to help reduce the likelihood of re-offending by giving you the opportunity to do a short, but intensive programme of work to tackle the causes of your offending. The Order will last for three months with the following aims:
- Protect the public from harm
- Encourage and assist you towards a law abiding life, thereby promoting your welfare
- Seek to prevent you from committing further offences
How does it work?
On leaving the court you will have been given an information leaflet along with a time and date for your first appointment with a member of the Youth Offending Service at Rosemead. You must keep this appointment.
At this first appointment you should learn who your Supervising Officer will be. Within 15 working days of your Action Plan Order, your Supervisor will, with your help, draw up an Intervention Plan. Your parents/guardians may also be involved in this, depending on your age.
The intervention plan will include:
- Reporting instructions, which may include home visits, depending on how old you are and where you live
- Areas of concern – offending behaviour and any other relevant issues that may be linked to your offending
- Ensuring you are aware of the impact that your behaviour has had on yourself, your family and the victims. This may include reparation work towards the victim.
- Helping you take responsibility for your actions and to think very carefully when you are in a tempting situation in the future
Your intervention plan is a guide and can be changed according to your needs.
Unless there are extra conditions attached to your Action Plan Order, you will be expected to report twice weekly for the full 3 month period. These appointments may include some group work. This will be the normal pattern if you do not re-offend and your Supervisor is happy with your progress.
Your progress under the Action Plan Order will be reviewed throughout by you, your Supervising Officer and possibly your parents / guardians, and the intervention plan may change accordingly.
There will be a review at the end of your order when you, your parents/carers and all the people you have worked with can share details of your progress.
What is expected of me?
Whilst subject to an Action Plan Order you will be required to:
- Notify any change of address
- Attend when required
- Arrive on time for appointments
- Comply with any reasonable directions of the Supervisor.
You are expected not to:
- Attend whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Become involved in violent or aggressive behaviour, or use language or behaviour that may cause offence to others
- Deliberately obstruct the work that is to be carried out, for example, by refusing to co-operate.
What if I miss an appointment?
It is very important that you keep your appointment with your Supervisor. If you are genuinely unable to keep an appointment, contact your Supervisor as soon as possible and you will be given another time. It may be that you have a doctor’s appointment or a job interview but remember, your Supervisor will ask for proof of this.
Breach procedure
If you miss an appointment without good reason, or break any of the rules, you may be given warning letter. Any subsequent missed appointments or breaches of the order may result in your return to Court. You may be returned to Court without first being given a formal warning, depending on the circumstances.
When a young person is returned to court for breach, if the breach is proved the Court may allow the order to continue but with an additional sentence e.g. a fine, or they may impose a different sentence altogether.
