The number of young people aged 10-to-16-years-old appearing in court has more than halved since 2007.
The latest Conviction and Sentencing and Child and Youth Prosecution Statistics for 2014 show the number of children and adults facing charges in courts is decreasing.
The total number of adult charges laid in New Zealand courts is down 12 per cent.
'More than 400 fewer young people appeared in court than in 2013,” aays Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams.
'This is the lowest point in more than 20 years and more than 50 per cent lower than its peak in 2007.
'While in the adult jurisdiction, the number of people appearing in court has reduced by nine per cent, which translates to over 8000 fewer individuals over the last year.”
The total number of adult charges laid in court is down 12 per cent or nearly 30,000 charges, and that's 125,000 less than at its peak in 2009.
Studies of people born in 1970 show that those who received a criminal conviction before they were 20-years-old were responsible for 80 per cent of convictions of those born in the same year.
'So it's very important we support our at-risk young people to move away from a lifetime of crime,” adds Amy.
'A vast majority of young people apprehended by police are dealt with by Youth Aid officers, Family Group Conferences and other methods aimed at preventing them from reoffending.”
The government has also introduced the Youth Crime Action Plan - a ten-year strategy to reduce crime and offending by young people and help those who offend to turn their lives around.
'Under the plan, twenty communities across New Zealand are developing or have developed their own local solutions for youth offending problems,” says Amy.
'The plan is about supporting the youth services, frontline staff, service providers and volunteers that are working with youth in the community.
'Every year, the number of youth and adults appearing in our courts goes down and this is testament that New Zealand is becoming a safer place. We'll continue to monitor these statistics to ensure they continue to trend down.”
4 comments
Overit
Posted on 26-03-2015 11:55 | By overit
Unfortunately a lot of young people today have no fear of consequences, and play roulette with their lives. Sentences are often a joke.
frustration ?
Posted on 26-03-2015 15:19 | By grasser
Could be the boys in blue are overit.They've sent so many to to be 'wet bus ticket' slapped and are not wasting their time charging them .The courts are just a joke. Take the recent incident of the Christchurch schoolboys and the court's attitude.
Overit
Posted on 26-03-2015 17:38 | By How about this view!
Noticed a lot more police activity at the Willow Street Bus stops today and I even saw two walking the area this morning. GUESS WHAT WAS MISSING???? The vagrants drinking, the gang members socialising and the drop-kicks just loafing around. Feet on the street does work, but only if the people wearing the boots wield some authority. Unfortunately the Maori wardens that keep the downtown seats from moving are treated as a bit of a joke, particularly by their own youth. So can I suggest that a little more police activity around the heart of the city would go a long way to reducing youth court appearances into the future.
BOBBIES ON THEIR FEET
Posted on 26-03-2015 22:34 | By The Caveman
Get the flatfoots out of their cars and get them walking. The little s...s keep their eyes open for the cop cars and disappear into the shadows when thy spot them. Put plods on the streets on their feet, and watch the statistics go through the roof. Oh sorry, the idea is not to put them in court - they have had a rough upbringing and cannot be held responsible for there "little" errors, even after getting caught six or seven times.
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