3 days ago
Probe into police use of 'alternative action' for youth offenders
A youth justice residence in Palmerston North.
Photo:
RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The police will soon come under scrutiny for how they deal with child and youth offending.
The Office of the Auditor-General is launching an audit into police's use of so-called "alternative action" plans, which look to divert young offenders from the formal justice system.
They can include a letter of apology to the victim, financial restitution, community work, re-enrolling in school or training, a curfew or commitments to stop associating with negative influences.
A statement on the office's website said the audit would focus on the systems already in place.
"We want to understand whether the police make the most of the opportunity to work with young offenders to divert them from the formal justice system and prevent further offending.
"We will look at how well the police ensure the quality of alternative action plans, measure their effectiveness, and look to continually improve them."
Last year, the government
set a target
to reduce serious and persistent youth offending by 15 percent by 2029.
The report is due in the first half of 2026.
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