Simon Power National Party Law & Order Spokesman
20 June 2006
Family group conferences not working for too many
Family group conferences are not working for too many young offenders, with latest figures showing some are attending up
to eight meetings with little or no result, says National's Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power.
He is releasing figures from Associate Social Development Minister Ruth Dyson that show the worst offender attended 10
conferences, while 1,749 attended two or more - almost double the number in 2002.
"One of the first steps in tackling crime is early intervention with young people," says Mr Power.
"Family group conferences were meant to deliver restorative justice to young people, their families, and victims, and to
avoid exposing offenders to the justice system.
"But they are not working for repeat offenders so the Government should be tackling the problem another way.
"Even the State Services Commission has criticised the lack of reliable information on the effectiveness of family group
conferences.
"National supports the system for people who do not usually get into trouble, but there is limited value in using them
repeatedly for those constantly in trouble.
"It is these people who need early and imaginative intervention. Family group conferences appear to fail on resolution
and undertakings made."
ENDS