Policy Issues from “Family, Victims and Culture: Youth Justice in New Zealand”

Gabrielle M. Maxwell

“Families, Victims and Culture: Youth Justice in New Zealand” is a study of practice under the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act. It examined what happened to 692 young people who became involved with the Police or the Ministry of Transport during 1990/91. Most (almost 500) were given a warning, over 200 had a Family Group Conference (FGC), and 70 went to the Youth Court.

This paper provides a brief summary of the study’s findings in relation to the objectives of the Act, and discusses some of the policy issues that arise from them. It is apparent that the new system of youth justice in New Zealand involves more diversion than in the past, fewer young people appearing in Court and going into residences and prisons, more accountability, and more family involvement.

However, there are five areas of practice that concern us: the tendency of professionals to take over and distort the FGC process; the vulnerability of families due to lack of information; inadequate protection of the rights of young people; the failure to involve and inform victims; and the lack of resources and support services to meet the needs of young people and their families.