Custodial sentences for young offenders

Custodial sentence for 12 to 17 year olds

A Detention & Training Order (DTO) sentences a young person to a period in custody. The orders can be given to any young person aged between 12 and 17. The minimum period for the order is four months and the maximum period is two years.

 The first half of the order is spent in custody (secure accommodation or a young offenders institute) and the second half of the order is spent in the community. 

The community element of the order is supervised by the Youth Justice Service, and strict terms are applied to this part of the order.