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Oranga Tamariki Act 1989

Youth justice - Jurisdiction of Youth Court

273: Manner of dealing with offences (other than murder, manslaughter, or offence specified in Schedule 1A)

You could also call this:

"How the law deals with young people who commit crimes, except for very serious ones like murder"

Illustration for Oranga Tamariki Act 1989

If you are a young person charged with an offence, this law applies to you. You can't be charged with murder, manslaughter, or an offence specified in Schedule 1A under this law. The Youth Court will hear your case unless you choose a jury trial for a category 3 or 4 offence.

The Youth Court must hear your case unless the charge is discharged under section 282 or removed from the Youth Court under section 276AB(1) or section 277. This law is also subject to section 272, which has more rules about how the Youth Court works.

You should know that the Youth Court's decision is based on these rules.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM153419.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Courts and legal helpCrime and justice > Criminal law
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272A: Modifications and procedure for child aged 12 or 13 years charged with offence in section 272(1)(b) or (c), or

"Special rules for 12 and 13-year-olds who break the law"

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274: Young person may elect trial by jury in certain cases, or

"You can choose a jury trial for some crimes"

Part 4Youth justice
Jurisdiction of Youth Court

273Manner of dealing with offences (other than murder, manslaughter, or offence specified in Schedule 1A)

  1. This section applies if a young person is charged with an offence other than—

  2. murder or manslaughter; or
    1. in the case of a young person who is aged 17 years,—
      1. murder or manslaughter; or
        1. an offence specified in Schedule 1A.

        2. The Youth Court must hear and determine the charge unless—

        3. the offence is a category 3 or 4 offence and the young person elects trial by jury; or
          1. the court discharges the charge under section 282; or
            1. the charge is removed out of the Youth Court under section 276AB(1) or 277.

              1. Subsection (2) is subject to section 272.

              Notes
              • Section 273: replaced, on , by section 4 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Amendment Act (No 2) 2011 (2011 No 83).
              • Section 273 heading: amended, on , by section 39(1) of the Oranga Tamariki Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 81).
              • Section 273(1): replaced, on , by section 39(2) of the Oranga Tamariki Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 81).
              • Section 273(2): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
              • Section 273(2)(c): amended, on , by section 10 of the Oranga Tamariki Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 30).