Ropes is the equivalent of a diversion in an adult court.
To be eligible for Ropes the charging police officer or superior officer must consider the child suitable for a Ropes recommendation. Factors that are taken into account are:
- the level of seriousness of the offending;
- whether the child offender made admissions and is remorseful; and
- whether the child offender has any prior criminal history.
If the police officer (the informant) is prepared to recommend the young person for Ropes, the Court then must decide whether the applicant is suitable.
Ropes is not an acronym. It represents an accurate description of the program. If a child is diverted to the Ropes program they simply must remain of good behaviour for the period and attend the Ropes course. In many instances the charging police officer will attend to work with the child they charged.
Usually a person will only be given one opportunity for Ropes. Once the child offender completes the program the matter will be discharged and will not appear on the child’s criminal record check.
