Trial and Treatment of Youth Offenders:

Human Rights at the Coalface of Youth Justice

His Honour Judge A J Becroft
Principal Youth Court Judge, New Zealand Youth Court
Te Kaiwhakawa Matua o Te Kooti Taiohi o Aotearoa

Paper also available on New Zealand Youth Court website
at www.justice.govt.nz/youth

Commonwealth Law Conference, London,
September 2005

Table of Contents

I INTRODUCTION

II THE NEED FOR A PRINCIPLED APPROACH

III PERSISTERS AND DESISTERS - TWO TYPES OF YOUTH OFFENDER

IV TRIAL AND TREATMENT IN A PRINCIPLED YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEM

V CONCLUSION