Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Who to believe

Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft makes a habit of being outspoken. That's good. At least we get a view even if we choose to disbelieve it. Fewer youths are being given diversion and he blames it on a lack of police resources. The police however blame it on the more serious nature of youth offending. Not shown in this link but in the hard copy is the judge claiming that violent offending is rising in all cohorts, particularly 51-99. That's a twist. Violent youth offending is rising, but as every other group's is, we should discount it?

Despite the successful use of diversion since reforms in 1989, its use had fallen markedly in the past two years, Judge Becroft said.

What constitutes "successful"? That some potential criminal careers have been nipped in the bud by keeping the individual out of court? I am sure that is true. But how many other individuals have gotten deeper into the poo because they weren't punished? Their misdemeanours were pandered to by a justice system that teaches them they are the 'victims'.

Because if the present situation constitutes "success" we don't even want to begin to imagine failure.

"This is a great provision," he said. "There's no other youth justice system in the world that has a provision like that ... that instructs authorities: don't charge."

It fascinates me what people say when they are addressing the like-minded. Maybe my reaction is heightened because this statement is taken out of context. But really. For all those do-gooders who constantly chatter about 'sending messages' this is very much an own goal.

Try rephrasing it. New Zealand bends over backwards to avoid holding young thugs and thieves to account.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Perhaps a lack of police resources could mean that the lower end of youth offending is going unchecked, leaving the violent offending as a higher percentage of cases being dealt with.

Older age group violence increases may be due to Mallard syndrome, poor brain/mouth coordination.

Kevin said...

We do more than your last sentence states but you were very restrained not to spell it out in minute detail.

Another thing we do is we slide down the OECD ladder to give thungs and thieves every chance.

Lindsay Mitchell said...

Anon, a recent Ministry of social Development report which analysed youth offending 1998-05 said,

"Apprehensions for violent offending rose by 36.4% over the previous 8 years and charges for violent offending increased by 57.6% between 2000 and 2005."

Justice conviction stats show the number of violent youth offences in 2006 were higher than any other year provided.

Anonymous said...

Lindsay, those statistics are appalling.

Serious attention required.

mojo said...

"New Zealand bends over backwards to avoid holding young thugs and thieves to account." ... yes, pre school, at school, and out of school - soon to be to the age of 18.
Oh dear.