Out of court resolutions

Out of court resolutions are a way of dealing with a crime, without going to court. They can include setting conditions, making up for damages or harm caused, paying back costs caused by the crime and rehabilitation work to stop someone offending again in the future. They are used to deal with certain types of crimes and are offered to those who are eligible, depending on any past offences and circumstances.

Evidence shows that out of court resolutions are more effective in preventing someone from reoffending than prison sentences or going to court.

In Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire, out of court resolutions are used for both child and adult offenders and offences. They cover both informal and formal justice outcomes.

Informal justice outcomes

Informal outcomes cover Community Resolutions and Deferred Prosecution (Deferred Caution and Deferred Charge) which mean they do not lead to a criminal record, if conditions under Deferred Prosecution are complied with by the offender, and divert people away from the formal justice system.

Formal justice outcomes

Formal outcomes such as a youth caution or adult caution, or youth conditional caution and adult conditional caution are formal outcomes that lead to a criminal record being recorded and may lead to further prosecution if the conditions that are set under a conditional caution are not complied with.