Fresh Start should mean starting early
Media Release
16 February 2009
Fresh Start should mean starting early, says Children’s Commissioner
Changes to the Children, Young Persons and
Their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders)
Amendment legislation being introduced by the Government
this week, has some good ideas, but lacks on fundamentals,
Children’s Commissioner Dr Cindy Kiro said
today.
“Targeting persistent child and young
offenders is a good idea, and I welcome some of the ideas
such as extended Supervision with Residence orders and
Supervision with Activity orders. The problem has been in
part, the absence of real investment in Supervision with
Activity or Supported Bail schemes, and in making sure that
what we do with children and young people who are sent to
residences is the best we can do to meet their needs and
turn their lives around”, Dr Kiro said.
“Rather
than sending 12 and 13 year olds to the Youth Court, we
should be focused on intervening with them earlier to stop
their repeat offending behaviour.
“In the past 10
years New Zealand has increased its prison population by 70
percent. Tougher, longer sentences have not deterred
criminals and all the evidence suggests initiatives that are
punitive, employ shock-tactics, or use corrective training
as the basis for reforming young offenders are largely
ineffective.
“The most effective ways of
reforming child and youth offenders focus on addressing the
issues in their lives rather than just dishing out
punishment. Reform comes from teaching them new skills for
addressing their problems.
“The hype around
escalating serious youth offending and alleged public
concerns about unsafe communities is not supported by data.
The figures have stayed quite steady for the past 10
years.
“Our youth justice system is based on
making young offenders accountable for their actions, but
also because they are children, on rehabilitation and
restoration. These principles are the basis of our
legislation and an international reputation for an effective
youth justice system.
“The Family Court already
has the authority to deal with Child Offenders, including
parenting orders, it does not require a legislative change
for this to occur.
“Occupying our army with
running military-style activity camps seems a dreadful waste
of their expertise, and does not guarantee that the
expertise required to work with these hard-end children and
young people, will be available. The values we want to see
in these children and young people of self-discipline,
personal responsibility and community values are more likely
to come from other options proposed such as specialised
treatment foster homes, especially if their parents and
families are part of this treatment,” Dr Kiro
said.
ENDS