A new report examines how New Zealand’s justice system addresses the unique needs of youth, questioning whether current strategies, resources, and rehabilitation efforts are truly effective.

Last Friday, the Young People and Young Adults in Corrections’ Custody report was released by the Office of the Inspectorate. It revealed that 880 people in prison are under the age of 25, with 6 out of 10 remaining in prison while awaiting trial or sentencing.

Awatea Mita, a former criminology lecturer, says the government’s decision to reinstate youth boot camps runs contrary to the report’s recommendations.

“There are four key areas that we could concentrate on to lower Youth Offending, which is reducing child poverty, increasing well-being programs for youth, increasing community spaces for youth, and more progressive justice practices that emphasize rehabilitation,” says Mita.

She says the death of one participant, two escaping, two getting arrested and one withdrawing earlier in the course show its ineffectiveness.