Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Youth offending stable

3 December 2004

Youth offending stable

Child, Youth and Family Minister Ruth Dyson today welcomed Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft’s comments that youth offending is relatively stable.

“Child, Youth and Family’s own data supports Judge Becroft’s comments. Over the last three years, the number of young offenders referred to the department has remained at around one per cent of the total number of 10-16 year olds in New Zealand.”

Ruth Dyson said it was important to remember that the vast majority of young people did not offend, and that the youth justice system held offenders accountable, either by way of alternative action by the Police or a youth justice family group conference.

“The number of young offenders being referred for youth justice family group conferences remains small, and the conferences are effective. Of the young people involved, up to 80 per cent only have one or two conferences, and a further 10 per cent have three.”

Ms Dyson said Child, Youth and Family ran a number of programmes for the very small group of young people who were more likely to be become chronic adult offenders, including the Reducing Youth Offending Programe and Supported Bail Programme.

“The government is taking a broad, responsible approach to the complex youth justice area. We have boosted residential services for young people, with more youth justice beds in Auckland and Christchurch. A new targeted bail programme is providing intensive community-based support for young people on remand, and we are providing better opportunities for families to support young offenders.”

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.