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Abstract

In England and Wales, diversion from formal criminal proceedings in the Youth Court for a young person who offends is usually only available if an admission to an offence is made. Failure to do so can be an immediate barrier to diversion, even for very young people who have committed low level offences. This article considers the complexities of the admission criterion, and explores whether the new provisions for diversion in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) is a lost opportunity to reconsider whether an admission should be a mandatory prerequisite for diversion.

Keywords

admission diversion police interview youth caution

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Diversion from Prosecution for Young People in England and Wales − Reconsidering the Mandatory Admission Criteria

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