NCJ Number
172439
Date Published
1995
Length
68 pages
Annotation
This study describes current New Zealand practice in dealing with more serious and recidivist offenders among 10- to 13-year-olds.
Abstract
A sample of child offenders who committed serious offenses or were recidivist offenders in 1994 was obtained by requesting police, in districts selected as having reported problems with child offenders during 1993, to forward names and files of child offenders. Data on family backgrounds, offending, referral patterns and actions taken to investigate or intervene were entered in a computer file. This report is based on analysis of data on 109 records. A relatively small number of these child offenders had been involved in very serious offenses, although many were persistent offenders. Most of the children bore the marks of inadequate care and abuse, and showed the responses that might be expected from this: they were difficult to manage both at home and at school, failed to learn, ran away, experimented with alcohol and other substances, and were involved in crime. Plans for interventions to meet care and protection issues were identified for about three-quarters of the cases. However, plans broke down or were not fully implemented in 72 percent of cases and nearly four out of five children reoffended. Notes, tables, figure, references, appendixes