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Youth Offending
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  Amendments to
Sentencing Act

Youth Offending

The minimum age for criminal prosecution should be removed.

Recent Headlines in the Media on this issue

"Youth Laughs at Judge"

"Boy, 14, charged with rape of woman"

"15 year old killer to appeal"

The existing law means young offenders are literally getting away with rape, the politically correct family group conference is totally ineffective as a deterrent, this is confirmed by our youth re-offending rates. Youth offenders should be processed through the normal court system but with the Judges having the power to hold parents and guardians jointly accountable. The courts must be able to order parents/guardians to undertaken parenting courses; continued offending would see parent/guardian prosecuted. (Parents would need restored power to control/discipline those for whom they are responsible, and probably need to end the "living alone" benefit which allows kids to give the fingers to their parents.)

The Christchurch "one man 16 year old crime wave" who could not be imprisoned despite 50 new charges on top of 31 previous offences because they were mostly burglaries and therefore not serious enough to allow him to be imprisoned. Also 16 year old who broke his 3 week old baby's leg and caused her brain damage but could not be sent to prison and Jade Paul McKay who could not be imprisoned by Judge Strettel for kidnapping and indecent assault because of his age (15).

The Hastings case where 3 offenders continuously raped a 6-year-old girl, because they were 14 at the time they escaped prosecution and were required to attend a Family Group Conference.