Darroch Ball MP
Spokesperson for Social Development
12 SEPTEMBER 2016
17-Year-Olds Must Be Held Accountable in Adult Court System
The age of accountability through the adult justice system must remain at 17, says New Zealand First.
“The only way we will curb youth offending is if there are suitable boundaries and consequences that can be enforced,”
says New Zealand First Spokesperson for Social Development Darroch Ball.
“The type of offending that we need to come down hard on is the current spate of youth committing crimes including smash
and grabs, aggravated robberies of dairies and service stations and aggravated assaults.
“These youth are taking the current system for a ride and must be held accountable for their actions.
“Our current youth justice system is just a breeding ground for our adult prison population with more than two-thirds of
youth reoffending within a year and half of the current adult population having previously been convicted in a youth
court.
“The National Party must get tough on law and order. Our communities have had a guts full of weak-kneed liberal
‘alternative pathways’ for criminal youth.
“Criminal youth at 17 need to be held accountable and the only way that will happen is if they move through the adult
court system,” says Mr Ball.
ENDS