Here is a basic explanation of legal terms and your rights plus a useful website which you can refer to for more information.

Spent Conviction

A spent conviction is a crime committed a long time ago which you no longer have to tell anyone about - except in special circumstances, such as when you apply for a job working with children.

Most short sentences a young person can receive in a Magistrates' Court will be spent after two and a half years. However, sentences over 6 months long take much longer to be spent.

Sentences for serious crimes such as murder, rape and child abuse can never be spent.

Police Custody

If you are arrested, you will be taken to a police station. The custody officer must tell you your rights, and give you a written statement about them.

These include the right:

• To have someone told about your arrest
• To writing materials
• To make a telephone call
• To legal advice from a solicitor
• To see the rules about how you should be treated - called the Codes of Practice.

It is up to you to decide who you tell about your arrest. If the police can't contact your first choice, you are allowed to choose up to two other people.

Whatever you decide, the police have to find someone who is responsible for you and tell them where you are. They must tell them you've been arrested, and what you have been arrested for. In most cases, this will be your parent or guardian.

Whilst at the police station, you have the right to help and advice from a solicitor. You do not have to accept this help, but it is a good idea. If you don't know a solicitor, you can ask to speak to the duty solicitor. All legal advice at the police station is confidential and free.

If you are charged, you will normally be allowed to go home within 24 hours. However, this can be overruled by a senior police officer or by a magistrates' court.

Court

If you are a defendant in a youth court, you have a right to have the court proceedings explained to you. You also have a right to be told what your charge means. The language in which you are told these things should be simple, and suited to your age and understanding.

If you are a defendant in an adult magistrates' court, you have broadly the same kind of rights but, as a rule, young people are allowed to stand in front of the dock rather than in it.

If you are under the age of 16, you should normally have a parent sitting with you during the trial. In some cases, it could be another adult relative or friend. Young defendants should be kept separate from adult defendants.

No defendant under the age of 17 should have contact with an adult defendant while being brought to court, or while waiting before or after attendance at court. This need not apply, however, where a young person is jointly charged with an adult, or where an adult defendant is a relative of a young one.

Defendants in youth courts should normally be referred to by their first name.

Members of the public are not normally allowed to be present during trials in youth courts.

Criminal Record

A criminal record is the list of any reprimands, final warnings and sentences you have received.

When you apply for a job you may be asked if you have a criminal record. You must tell the truth and mention any convictions that are not 'spent'. You do not have to mention spent convictions if asked about your criminal record by some employers.

Most short sentences a young person receives in a Magistrates' Court will be spent after two and a half years. However, sentences over 6 months long take much longer to be spent.

Sentences for serious crimes such as murder, rape and child abuse can never be spent.

For some jobs, such as working with children, the employer will want to see your police record. This contains the full list of your convictions, including reprimands and warnings.

For more information and an extensive glossary of legal terms, visit Rizer - see below.