Intervention program targeting persistent young offenders being trailled

7/11/97

An innovative intervention program targeting persistent young offenders is being piloted by the Ministry of Justice.

The scheme, run by Juvenile Community Based Services, aims to better identify and help persistent young law breakers who are likely to become chronic repeat offenders.

Attorney General Peter Foss said the pilot, which started in July, provided specialised intervention and individual management plans for about 100 youths living in the pilot Midland area.

The scheme placed great emphasis on a comprehensive assessment of the offender which was used to work out a detailed management plan.

Mr Foss said the screening process was undertaken on two levels - firstly identifying the likelihood of re-offending, followed by an examination of the individual's risk factors.

"Under the pilot scheme, priority intervention assessment looks at how a young person can best meet their responsibilities and develop the skills necessary to become law-abiding citizens," he said.

"It also examines the risk they represent to the community and the type of supervision needed, based on the extent of their offences and history of offending.

"But the assessment goes beyond this, recognising that many factors often combine to set young people on the road to crime. For this reason a full needs assessment is also carried out.

"This means a realistic appraisal of social environment, family and school circumstances, income support and any other possible or past problems such as substance abuse.

"This assessment pinpoints the skills, resources, social supports and other programs that may be needed to help stop the juvenile offending."

Mr Foss said the assessment process was labour intensive and was the most comprehensive juvenile assessment the Ministry had ever undertaken.

The pilot scheme would run until December and would be evaluated to gauge its effectiveness and practical application across the Juvenile Community Based Services area.

The Minister said that following assessment, juveniles in the scheme were managed under one of three new intervention and supervision categories - high intensity, medium level and compliance supervision.

Movement down the scale of supervision levels depended on individual behaviour and progress, except in the case of serious violent offenders.

High intensity supervision is reserved for:

·      persistent offenders who have continued to offend over a long period and who have been given one or more custodial sentences in the last 12 months;

·      emerging persistent offenders who started offending at a young age and who are beginning to re-offend frequently; and -

·      serious offenders who have committed a very serious offence and who warrant special consideration and support.

"Management plans for offenders on high intensity supervision include clear goals and intervention strategies," Mr Foss said.

"Offenders on this top level require regular face to face contact, the use of intensive support services, regular reviews, and the use of mentors who are positive role models.

"They must also attend rehabilitative, treatment or other programs that can help them with specific issues or problems."

Medium level supervision generally applies to juveniles who:

·      have served a period of detention more than 12 months ago;

·      have not committed a serious crime against a person in the past year; and -

·      who have less than six finalised court appearances. Compliance monitoring applies to juveniles who:

·      have had no previous custodial sentences;

·      have not committed a serious offence against a person; and -

·      who have less than six finalised court appearances.

Mr Foss said all juveniles taking part in the pilot had been allocated a caseworker who checked on them regularly to make sure that there circumstances remained stable.

It was important that all had family or lived with, or had access to responsible and supportive adults. They should regularly attend school or work or be searching for a job.

"This pilot scheme is an especially focussed initiative in a very demanding and complex area," Mr Foss said.

"It is hoped that it will yield positive results for the young people it targets, ultimately benefiting the whole community."

Media contact: Stacey Molloy, Ministry of Justice (08) 9264 1099