Recommendation 22

The youth court occupies a distinct position within the magistrates’ court system, dealing with serious cases involving some of the most vulnerable defendants in the criminal justice system. As 90% of children and young people are tried in the youth courts, any reforms to the magistrates’ court appeal process are likely to disproportionately affect them. Care must therefore be taken to ensure that children and young people are not disadvantaged as a consequence of these changes. (Conclusion, Paragraph 99)