Overview - this is an act that enabled the establishment of the Children's Court of WA
The Children's Court of Western Australia is a state court that hears cases involving children (aged 10 to 17 years) accused of committing criminal offences.It was originally called the Perth Children's Court when it was created in 1907 by the State Children's Act, but became known Children’s Court of Western Australia when the Children's Court of Western Australia Act 1988 was passed.
The Perth Children's Court is located at 160 Pier Street, Perth, although children's court cases are heard in other courthouses throughout the state.Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Court_of_Western_Australia
The Perth Children's Court is located at 160 Pier Street, Perth, although children's court cases are heard in other courthouses throughout the state.Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Court_of_Western_Australia
Why do we need a Children's Court of WA
The Court has exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine a charge of an offence alleged to have been committed by a child.
Source: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/ccowaa1988385/s19.html
The Children's Court does not handle matters concerning children after divorce or separation of the parents (where the child lives, who they contact and financial responsibilities of the parents). These matters are dealt with by the Family Court of WA.
Source: http://www.childrenscourt.wa.gov.au/P/protection_proceedings.aspx?uid=2191-5519-2942-6780
Source: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/ccowaa1988385/s19.html
The Children's Court does not handle matters concerning children after divorce or separation of the parents (where the child lives, who they contact and financial responsibilities of the parents). These matters are dealt with by the Family Court of WA.
Source: http://www.childrenscourt.wa.gov.au/P/protection_proceedings.aspx?uid=2191-5519-2942-6780
Positives of Having a Children's Court
The Court also deals with protection and care applications for children under the age of 18 years.
As a parent;
You have an important role when your child goes to court. You can support your child and give information to the court.
If you are not present and do not provide a good reason, the Court can order your attendance. If you fail to attend court when ordered, the Court may issue a warrant for you to be apprehended.
Your child should have a lawyer when going to Court. If you do not have a lawyer you should arrive at Court early and ask the Voluntary Court Welfare Service to arrange for your child to see the duty lawyer.
Magistrates sometimes will allow parents to give information to the Court which may be taken into account at the time of sentencing.
This usually happens if you tell your lawyer you have something you want to say.
You may want to tell the court how you are dealing with the situation and how your child has behaved since the offence occurred.
You may also want to bring character references from people including teachers, employers or sporting coaches for example, but it will be up to the magistrate whether they will be read.
Source:
http://www.childrenscourt.wa.gov.au/F/for_parents_and_guardians.aspx?uid=8770-8130-3592-3627
As a parent;
You have an important role when your child goes to court. You can support your child and give information to the court.
If you are not present and do not provide a good reason, the Court can order your attendance. If you fail to attend court when ordered, the Court may issue a warrant for you to be apprehended.
Your child should have a lawyer when going to Court. If you do not have a lawyer you should arrive at Court early and ask the Voluntary Court Welfare Service to arrange for your child to see the duty lawyer.
Magistrates sometimes will allow parents to give information to the Court which may be taken into account at the time of sentencing.
This usually happens if you tell your lawyer you have something you want to say.
You may want to tell the court how you are dealing with the situation and how your child has behaved since the offence occurred.
You may also want to bring character references from people including teachers, employers or sporting coaches for example, but it will be up to the magistrate whether they will be read.
Source:
http://www.childrenscourt.wa.gov.au/F/for_parents_and_guardians.aspx?uid=8770-8130-3592-3627
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Going to the Childrens Court | |
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Negatives of Having a Children's Court
It might be daunting or scary if you are called as a witness. Witnesses play a very important role at the Children's Court and the WA justice system.
Witnesses appearing in the Children's Court can be of any age. You may be called as a witness in a criminal matter or a protection proceeding. If you are appearing as a witness you should:
Sometimes witnesses do not want to face the accused in court and may give their evidence from another room or another court by closed-circuit television systems. If you require this service, contact the office listed on your witness summons.
When giving evidence:
Witnesses appearing in the Children's Court can be of any age. You may be called as a witness in a criminal matter or a protection proceeding. If you are appearing as a witness you should:
- contact the court if you need to use an interpreter service
- take any documents that are relevant to the case with you to court
- take something to read while you wait to give your evidence (you may have to wait for a long time)
- consult a solicitor or Legal Aid WA if you require legal advice
- arrive on time and let the court officer know you are present
Sometimes witnesses do not want to face the accused in court and may give their evidence from another room or another court by closed-circuit television systems. If you require this service, contact the office listed on your witness summons.
When giving evidence:
- try to stay calm and relaxed
- let the judge or magistrate know if you need to take a break
- speak clearly and slowly
- listen carefully to the questions that the lawyers ask you
- if you do not understand or cannot hear something, ask for it to be explained or repeated
- be thorough (try not to leave anything out)
- ask the judge or magistrate for advice if you need to
- Source: http://www.childrenscourt.wa.gov.au/W/witnesses.aspx?uid=3038-9308-1648-5571