'Military academy' for youth offenders to be trialled from mid-2024 (original) (raw)
A pilot for military-style boot camps for young offenders will be running by the middle of this year, Children's Minister Karen Chhour has announced.
In a statement this afternoon, the minister said the crackdown is part of the coalition Government's 100-day plan.
“We’re committed to creating more tools to respond to the most serious and persistent young offenders. This includes the establishment of military-style academies and the creation of a new Young Serious Offender designation.
“We intend for a pilot for a military-style academy to be operating from the middle of this year. It will have a military-style component as well as a rehabilitative and trauma-informed care approach to help these young people turn their lives around and reduce their risk of reoffending.
“Oranga Tamariki will lead and deliver the programme, working with providers where they have appropriate capability and expertise, and alongside other government departments in a multi-agency approach to ensure it is a well-rounded programme."
Chhour said she'll be working with Paul Goldsmith, Judith Collins and Mark Mitchell.
Karen Chhour in November 2023 (file image). (Source: Supplied/Doug Mountain)
She said: "Legislative changes are required to enable stronger consequences for young people who are committing crimes and they are currently being worked through."
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon first introduced his military camp plans in 2022.
At the time, when Luxon was opposition leader, he said the camps would be reserved for youth offenders that commit more violent or destructive crimes.
The previous National government introduced boot camps for young criminals in 2008, however an analysis found that 85-87% of those in the programme went on to reoffend within two years.
Luxon defended the camps. In November 2022 he said they produced a 50-65% reduction in "violent offending, theft and burglary" and that he would extend the programme from 12 weeks to 12 months.
The policy sparked criticism from some researchers and academics, who have said resurrecting the camps would be ineffective.
A 1News poll in December 2022 found a majority of Kiwi voters would support military boot camps for serious youth offenders.