TWO VIEWS

I: Deal With Youth Offenders Before It's Too Late

ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Police Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today urged the Government to catch and deal with young offenders now, before it is too late and they grow into hardened adult criminals who end up spending their lives in and out of prison.

"Fresh research has shown that two thirds of young offenders dealt with by Family Group Conferences reoffend, with 20 percent ending up in prison. Perhaps this will show the Government that FGCs do not work for repeat offenders," Dr Newman said.

"Further, answers to my written Parliamentary Questions have revealed that, between 1999-2003, youth apprehensions rose 10 percent from 30,665 to 33,994. These are the latest statistics the Government holds and numbers would have increased further by now.

"This means that more and more young offenders are being dealt with by a process that fails to alter their behaviour and attitude.

"The fact is that FGCs do not work, and Labour knows it. But, rather than addressing such worrying findings, the Government has a Justice Ministry spokeswoman front up to Linda Clark's `Nine to Noon' show to try to gloss the whole issue over.

"This is completely unacceptable. The current system is failing a large proportion of these young criminals, who become increasingly hardened with each offence, and who are getting closer and closer to becoming hardened adult criminals.

"Clearly, FGCs are providing little deterrent to youth offending, and it is time for change. Lowering the age of criminal culpability would see youths appearing before Youth Court judges - who need the power to deal with them effectively, as proposed in my Sentencing (Community Sentencing to Fit the Crime) Amendment Bill, due to be debated in Parliament on the next Members day.

"Fixing the problems with youth justice in New Zealand is an investment: catching recidivist offenders when they're young - when there is still time to amend their behaviour - ensures that we do not have to try catching and imprisoning them in future," Dr Newman said.

Deal With Youth Offenders Before It's Too Late Monday 4 Oct 2004 Dr Muriel Newman Press Releases -- Crime & Justice Monday, 4 October 2004, 3:38 pm Press Release: ACT New Zealand

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0410/S00047.htm

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II: Research highlights youth crime problems

Press Release: New Zealand National Party

Fresh research on youth offending highlights why it is essential that changes are made to the youth justice system, says National Law and Order spokesman, Tony Ryall.

"This is yet more evidence of the crumbling justice system," says Mr Ryall.

He is commenting on a Social Development Ministry study which found that two thirds of the young criminals dealt with by family group conferences reoffend, and that one in five end up behind bars within three years.

"This proves what National has been saying all along," says Mr Ryall. "The family group conference system is not working and we will put limits on it.

"Dr Brash outlined this in his speech on law and order in July.

"The system is not working for the hard-core 5% who keep reoffending. The best way to deal with them is to lower the age of criminal responsibility and get them into the Youth Court sooner. We will limit a young offender to two family group conferences.

"National will give Youth Court judges more power to deal with young offenders. And we will expect more from their parents.

"These youths are not little angels and must be dealt with firmly before they embark on a life of crime.

"Helen Clark promised to crack down on youth crime, but instead of getting better, it has got worse," Mr Ryall says.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0410/S00038.htm

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