1. “Some Challenges for NZ Secondary Schools... from the perspective of the Youth Court” An address to the Secondary Principals’ Association Conference. Rotorua 21 May 2004 Andrew Becroft, Principal Youth Court Judge Te Kaiwhakawa Matua o Te Kooti Taiohi

2. Outline 1.Who I am 2.What is the real picture about youth offending trends: fact or fiction? 3. “Serious” young offenders 4.10 Challenges which arise for NZ secondary schools

3. 1. Who Am I? 1.(like most of you) a former student 2.a former lawyer 3. a Judge 4.a father...

4. …as a father Dear Dad Whenever I have a problem I always follow your advice….. And ask Mum Happy Father’s Day

5. 2. What is the real picture about youth offending? “There are a number of children running about the streets of Dunedin … without the control of parents. If the government does not take them in hand … they will become … members of a criminal class.”

6. 2. What is the real picture about youth offending? (cont.) “There is a definite relationship between the increase in the number of children on the streets and the increase in juvenile crime.” First headline from the Otago Daily Times 1884; second in 1886

7. 2. What is the real picture about youth offending? (cont.) Each generation unfavourably compares today’s young people with previous “golden ages” Poor centralised statistics Much debated, frequently distorted Selective statistics mislead Debate is welcomed; must be informed debate

8. Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics Most young people do something which breaks the law at least once while growing up About 5% of 14-16 year olds come to police notice (46,258 offences last year) About 2% of 14-16 year olds appear in the Youth Court (6,900 last year)

9. Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics (cont.) Youth offending has remained a stable 22% of total offending for the last 12 years Last five years, only relatively small increases in offending by under 17 year olds A small percentage is serious: – 60% property of $100 or less – 20% shoplifting – 24% committed between 9am and 4pm – 9% is violent offending

10. Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics (cont.) Violent offending increasing? - Significant increases 1990-1995; only slightly since 1996 - Apprehensions for 10-13 year olds for violent offences dropped since 1997 Q.1 Is the age at which under 17 year olds start to commit violent offences decreasing? Q.2 Has the type of violence changed?

11. Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics (cont.) 76 - 84% youth offending resolved by police “alternative action” (diversion) Less than 20% offences come to Youth Court Numbers in the Youth Court dropped in last 2 years (6,900 last year, some repeats) Enormous regional variations. Cannot generalise.

12. “The 80 -20 Rule” 80% of offenders commit 20% of offences These are “desisters” or “adolescent limited” Good interventions work. 20% of offenders commit 80% of offences (actually 5-15% of young offenders commit 60- 75% of offences) These are “persisters”, “life course” “early onset” offenders Examples

13. 3. Serious Young Offenders 6 Characteristics: 1. 85% male 2. No male role model; and/or family dysfunction 3. Up to 80% not “engaged” with school 4. Up to 75-80% drug and/or alcohol abuse 5. Many have psychological, psychiatric issues…50%? 6. At least 50% are Maori

14. Auckland Youth Forensic Services Statistics: 2000-2001 80-85% Male Maori & Pacific Island over-represented 70% use cannabis; 60% use alcohol 50% lived in 3 different placements 30-40% “care and protection” history 20% involved in gangs 70% unemployed or not attending school (40% Reached 3rd form, 32% reached 4th form) History of offending: 5 - 10 offences

15. Characteristics of Young Offenders: England & Wales An Analysis of 4,000 Young Offenders  83% male  70% from single parent families  41% regularly truanting  60% have special educational needs  Over 50% use cannibas  75% smoke and drink  75% considered impulsive  25% at risk of harm as a result of their own behaviour (9% at risk of suicide)

16. The Challenge “How to influence aggressive, impulsive, truanting, teenage boys (disproportionately Maori) in the grip of alcohol and/or drug addictions, and who have borderline personality disorders from dysfunctional & split families with anti social friends?”

18. 4. The challenges arising for schools 10 challenges/issues I am no educator “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread” Not here to preach or lecture My aim to provoke and encourage reflection

19. i. School attendance is a protective factor against risk eg. criminal offending “Increasing attendance & participation in school by young people a key factor in reducing anti-social behaviour & offending” “Problems with school attendance one of the ‘big four’ risk factors” Home; school; peers; community Every young person kept at school is one less potential career criminal??

20. ii. Significant correlation between offending and school attendance Not all truants and non enrolled young people offend: but overwhelming majority of offenders are truants or not enrolled May not be causative, but a clear link exists A “king-hit” to reduce youth offending? Lack of a national data base to identify non- enrolled young people a major problem?

21. iii. Implications for truancy policy Truancy levels remain “unacceptably high” 2002 survey of absences during 1 week: – one third ie., 86,918 involved truancy Truancy the symptom not the problem What is your policy? 126 District Truancy Services. Quality? Is your DTS delivering? Taxi services not enough The community is part of the solution

22. iv. Exclusions / suspensions Rates in last 3 years stable. In 2002:- – 4937 suspended; BUT 2,924 returned to school – 1,465 excluded “Never lose a customer just drive them away”? “Restorative Justice” approach? – School Community Conferences The 99 or the 1? A problem “re-located” not solved. If you exclude will you enroll other school’s excluded pupils?

24. v. Alternative Education In 2002: 3,094 in “AE”. The philosophical debate: 2 parallel systems? “De facto” second system exists anyway. Eligibility Compelling need for a national network of accredited, standardised, AE programmes; 1820 places; difficult “entry” standards Do you have access to an AE programme? Note: Correspondence school a dumping ground? The problematic issue of exemptions

25. vi. Drug Abuse and Dependency Logical answers are not the answers The “lights are on but nobody’s home” A great hushed up problem Pressing need for more programmes 2 pleas – keep retaining drug abusers; but keep campaigning for better treatment services – Speak out

26. vii. Male Role Models Who are the boys in your school with no “father figure” actively involved in their lives “Father son” activities (or afternoons) at school? Fathering (and parenting) seminars? Quality teachers

27. viii. Psychological / Psychiatric Services; Learning disabilities You will know the students who suffer from mental ill-health and who are high risk Depressingly few services available Do you have contact with a good service? Learning disabilities; how widespread amongst serious young offenders?

28. ix. Values Education Lack of basic, shared, moral values Examples: defiant; lack of victim empathy The only absolute value - “there are no absolute values” ? Values education a core curriculum subject? Leaving aside origins, 8 objective values common to all civilisations can be identified:

29. ix. Values Education (cont.) Honesty and truthfulness Kindness Consideration and concern for others Compassion Obedience Responsibility Respect Duty

30. x. But…teachers are not Social Workers…or are they? Primary role to educate MoE research: best way of retaining pupils - better quality teaching Like it or not teachers (& schools) will increasingly be partly “de facto” social workers Shouldn’t be this way, but it is Social worker in every school?

31. Conclusion 2-4,000 not enrolled or alienated /300,000 Maybe less than 1%: a small problem? “Early adolescent years - ages 10-14 are the community’s last best shot at preventing social problems” (Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development, 1995) What shot will you fire? Will you make it count?