August 02, 2023
Youth crime sparks fuzzy policy
A criminologist says the use of the term youth justice perpetuates judicial inequality.
Ronald Kramer from the University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau says youth crime and youth justice are vague terms that circle around societal issues of inequality and institutional racism.
Inequality creates conditions for unlawful behaviours to breed.
“Housing, cost of living, affordability, access to food, all of that bigger picture stuff falls by the wayside and we’re just focused on correcting or changing behaviors or whatever the case may be,” Dr Kramer says.
Both major parties have have made a big deal of their youth crime policies, with Labour announcing the establishment of two new specialist youth justice units in Auckland and Christchurch.