Youth Justice Flashcards
What is youth justice and is it a problem?
Youth justice is the legal scheme for responding to instances where children or young people break the law. It aims to reduce the chances of young people developing offending careers into adulthood. There are debates about whether youth justice is a problem or not.
What is the purpose of the youth justice system?
The purpose of the youth justice system is to respond to instances where children or young persons break the law. It aims to reduce the chances of young people developing offending careers into adulthood and emphasizes strengthening families, whanau, hapu, iwi, and family groups to deal with the offending by their children and young persons.
What are the key focuses of the youth justice system?
The youth justice system focuses on diversion (not charging those under 14), understanding the unique characteristics of the teenage brain, addressing underlying causes of offending, involving families/whanau in decision-making, and considering the interests of victims.
What is the trend for youth crime in New Zealand?
The trend for youth crime in New Zealand has been consistently dropping for over 17 years. In 2007, approximately 5,000 youth under 17 went to court, while in the last year, it was around 1,300 under 18-year-olds.
What are some common offenses committed by youth offenders?
Most youth offenders commit property-related offences, especially vehicle theft and related crimes. There have been some increases in these offences in 2022.
What are some background issues that contribute to youth offending?
Some background issues that contribute to youth offending include systemic adversity, ableism impacts, barriers to participation, intergenerational impacts of colonisation and racism, less than optimal prenatal environments, developmental disabilities and high complex needs, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), trauma, loss, neglect, abuse, and poverty.
What are the principles of the youth justice system?
The principles of the youth justice system include diverting from formal proceedings when possible, avoiding using criminal proceedings for well-being services, strengthening families and involving them in decision-making, keeping youth in the community whenever possible, and addressing the underlying causes of offending.
What are the options in the Youth Court?
The Youth Court has various options, including discharging the young person as if the charge had never been laid, issuing orders for supervision, community work, reparation, disqualification from driving, and secure Youth Justice Residences. In serious cases, the young person may be transferred to the District Court for sentencing.
What is the role of Family Group Conferences (FGCs) in the youth justice system?
FGCs play a central role in the youth justice system as decision hubs. Plans and decisions regarding youth offenders require consensus and agreement among family members, youth, youth advocates, police, victims, OT representatives, and other agencies and support people. The outcomes of FGCs are often ratified in court.
What is the “Care to Prison Pipeline”?
The “Care to Prison Pipeline” refers to the phenomenon where individuals who have been in youth care are more likely to remain in the justice system. It involves challenges such as victimization, school exclusions, out-of-home care leading to trouble, suicide/self-harm/early death, poor mental health, substance misuse, homelessness, and intergenerational impacts.
What are some of the costs associated with criminalization?
The costs of criminalization include early death due to lack of assistance, traumas experienced by caregivers, miscarriages of justice, perpetuating a cycle of violence in youth justice residences, and the burden of having a criminal record.
Who is typically in justice residences?
Answer: On a given day, there are around 100 children in justice residences, with 90% of them being in locked residency. Most of them are aged 14-18, 10-12 are females, 70% are Maori, and 70% are on remand. However, residences are often violent and do not ensure the safety of the children.
What are examples of better alternatives to justice residences?
Examples of better alternatives include iwi-led youth remand services that allow connection with culture, specialist one-to-one care with structured routines, mana-enhanced activities, community-based homes, and culturally focused services that reconnect to hapu and cater specifically to Maori.
What are some prevention and intervention strategies for youth justice?
Prevention and intervention strategies include targeting younger children before they reach Youth Court, emphasizing early intervention to break the intergenerational cycle, focusing on education as a protective factor, and implementing justice reinvestment approaches that redirect resources to empower individuals and provide support and mentorship to disconnected youth.
What are some failures in addressing youth crime?
Failures in addressing youth crime include ineffective boot camps, penal populism, applying the same approaches as with adults, overreliance on imprisonment, failure to address addictions and underlying drivers of offending, and wasting money on the machinery of justice.
What are some recommendations for improving the youth justice system?
Recommendations include raising the age of criminal responsibility to 16, enhancing community supports for bail/remand, establishing a new service for 18-25-year-olds, promoting diversion programs, transitioning from youth justice residences to small family-like secure homes, implementing multiagency teams and communication assistants, and actively listening to young people.
What is the Youth Crime Action Plan 2013-2023?
The Youth Crime Action Plan emphasizes partnership with communities, alternative action plans to disrupt criminal justice pathways, early intervention, screening, assessment, and diagnosis, increased supports for disabilities, mental health, and education, wraparound services for caregivers and whanau, and specialist navigators and services for neurodiverse individuals involved in child protection and justice.
What is the concept of “building ramps instead of walls”?
“Building ramps instead of walls” refers to a proactive approach that focuses on early intervention, comprehensive support services, and active involvement of caregivers and whanau in decision-making. It aims to provide disability, mental health, and education supports, establish small secure homes for children, and enhance communication and collaboration among professionals while valuing the input of young people.
What are some characteristics of the teenage brain that contribute to youth crime?
The teenage brain is still developing, with executive functioning and impulse control improving until at least 25 years of age. Sensation-seeking and risky behavior are common due to a lack of life experience to fully understand consequences and exercise self-control. Peer influences play a significant role during this period.
