November 28, 2022
Boot camps bad psychology
Māori clinical psychologists have put their names to an open letter to National Party leader Chris Luxon expressing concern at the party’s policy for combating youth crime.
The 30 from Māori psychologists’ roopu He Paiaka Totara say measures such as boot camps and ankle bracelets for tamariki as young as 10 could have consequences similar to those being uncovered by the Royal Commission into Abuse in State Care.
Spokesperson Ainsleigh Cribb-Sua says the policy lacks cultural considerations, expertise or sense.
“You dont have to go far – even just googling – to know with all certainty that military-style boot camps don’t work in terms of reducing recidivism or repeat crimes so the fact Christopher Luxon’s got advisors who said ‘oh, this will be a really good idea, let’s not even start the conversation, let’s put a policy together that speaks to the action if this,’ is just ridiculous,” she says,
Ms Cribb-Sua says a lot of youth crime stems from disconnection, disenfranchisement and stress, and the solutions lie in helping rangatahi find a sense of belonging and positive identity through aroha and compassion.