<
https://theconversation.com/promises-to-get-tough-on-youth-crime-might-win-votes-but-the-evidence-shows-it-hasnt-worked-for-nz-214147>
"The promise to “get tough on youth crime” is a New Zealand election perennial.
This year, parties on both the left and right have pledged to crack down on
young offenders – despite a lot of evidence that such approaches do not work in
the long term.
Already, the
Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill is
working through the legislative process. If passed, it would create a new
offence within the Crimes Act, allowing the prosecution of children as young as
12, and prison sentences of up to ten years.
Labour, National and ACT all supported its first reading in parliament. Labour
in government also announced new high-needs youth justice units, drawing
criticism from opposition parties and justice reform advocates.
National is proposing a new “young serious offender” justice category, as well
as the creation of “youth offender military academies”. ACT wants 200 new youth
justice beds and responsibility for youth justice to move from children’s
ministry Oranga Tamariki to the Department of Corrections.
According to current polling, parties on the right may be in a position to form
the next government. If so, it seems New Zealand’s youth justice system may
take a more punitive turn."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
