Principal Youth Court Judge Defends Christchurch Pilot

25 FEBRUARY, 2003

The Principal Youth Court Judge, Judge Andrew Becroft, says claims reported in today’s edition of "The Press" are unfair and incorrect.

"The report criticises the Youth Drug Court but is misleading," he said today.

"It suggests that the pilot is ineffective because of high re-offending rates. But the figures produced in the report don’t indicate the successes of the pilot."

"We know, from dealing with these cases, that there are offenders who have ceased offending, that there are some in full-time employment, and others engaged in responsible community activity such as team sport."

"This is remarkable progress for those who are amongst the most serious offenders that the Youth Court deals with. It has got to be for the good of the community if some of those offenders can be turned away from the life of crime that has resulted from their drug dependency, and we know that some of them are."

Judge Becroft also questioned the usefulness of the figures relied on in the report.

"It is significant that the Police are not themselves claiming ownership of the figures, which don’t appear to differentiate between minor and serious re-offending."

"We know that serious repeat offenders will frequently go on to commit further offences, that this pattern won’t be changed immediately, but generalised figures, such as these, won’t show where progress is being made."

Judge Becroft says it isn’t fair to criticise the pilot because of what some believe is insufficient recognition given to the needs of victims.

"If we are dealing with drug dependant offenders, their likelihood of making reparations, for example, to the victims is very slim until the dependency is dealt with. That will take time."

Judge Becroft says it isn’t correct to see the Youth Drug Court as a soft option.

"It isn’t correct to say that the Court doesn’t sentence offenders. Sentence is deferred until the offenders have been on a programme to reduce or eliminate their dependency."

"The core of the programme, as in all areas of youth justice, is to make the offender accountable. But for the future well-being of the community, the programme also recognises the need to remove the dependency that has led these young people to a life of crime."

"We are dealing with a very hardened group of young offenders and progress won’t come overnight. It will take time before we will see a significant shift in the offending rates of this group."

"But it is certainly too soon to write off a programme that is producing results already, due to the considerable efforts of a hard-working and dedicated youth justice team."

Inquiries: Neil Billington, Senior Judicial Communications Adviser

(04) 914–3673 (027) 233-7825