Probation orders
If your child pleads guilty or is found guilty of an offence, they may get a probation order.
A probation order will help your child to find ways to stop offending while they continue to live in the community.
The purpose of a probation order is to:
- address your child’s offending behaviour through counselling and programs
- provide consequences for your child’s offending behaviour
- let your child take part in community and family life in a supervised and supported way
- help your child to continue with study and work .
A youth justice officer will supervise your child for the period of the order. Your child must follow rules, take part in activities, and frequently go and see their youth justice officer. They may also receive home visits.
How long it lasts
Generally, your child can be sentenced to a probation order for up to 2 years. In serious cases, this can be extended up to 3 years.
What it involves
Your child will complete activities and programs to help them not offend.
Your child’s youth justice officer will give your child help and advice about the support they need to do things like get back into education and find a job.
Rules
There are rules your child must follow when they are on a probation order.
Your child must:
- not break the law
- go to the programs that their youth justice officers tell them to
- follow every reasonable direction given by their youth justice officer
- get permission from their youth justice officer if they wish to leave Queensland.
You or your child must also tell us if your child’s details—address, school, or work—change (this must happen within 2 business days of the change).
Sometimes the court will add other conditions to your child’s probation order. Extra conditions are added when the court thinks that your child needs extra supervision, counselling or help in the community. These conditions are just as important and your child must follow them.
Breaking the rules
If your child does not follow the rules of their order, your child’s youth justice officer will talk to your child about this. Your child may also be given a written warning.
If your child does not get back on track after their warning, they may have to go back to court. The court will then decide whether they can continue on the probation order. The court can decide to give them a different order.
It is a very serious matter if your child breaks the law while they are on probation. The court can hold them in breach of their probation order and give them more penalties.
If you or your child think they are having problems following the rules of their order you should talk to your child’s youth justice officer.
Further information
- Learn more about young people and the justice system.
- Locate your closest youth justice service centre
- Read about how you can help and support your child.