Young people and going to court

If a young person is charged by the police before they turn 18 years old, they may have to go to court.

They will first have to go to Youth Justice Court. 

A young person will be told they have to go to court by a written notice to appear, summons or bail paper.

If they can't go to court on that day, and have a very good reason, they will have to organise a new court date.

If they ignore the court date, they may have to be arrested and taken to court. 

Often a young person may have to go to court more than once before their case is finished.

If a judge thinks the young person has committed a serious crime, they may have also have to go to the Northern Territory Supreme Court.