New Zealand launches intensive turnaround program for young offenders

New Zealand launched an intensive program on Tuesday for the country's most prolific young offenders, part of the next phase of the government's response to youth crime.

The program, announced by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in July, will see up to 60 recidivist young offenders and their families assigned an intensive support social worker to develop an immediate plan for the young person and provide ongoing support, Minister for Children Kelvin Davis said while launching the program in Auckland.

That plan will be specifically tailored to the needs of the child and their family and could include mentoring, alcohol/drug treatment, support to navigate and access the housing and education systems, mental health support, and cultural support, Davis said.

The program is designed to prevent further victimization by getting in early and breaking the cycle for a young offender, he said.

"What has become clear is that there is a very small group of young offenders whose age and complex underlying issues means they are falling through the cracks despite best efforts," said the minister.

This initiative will provide the intensive social work needed, backed up by a local coordination team and the community, to ensure the child gets the support they need immediately to help stop them from reoffending again, he said.

Police Minister Ginny Andersen said the program follows a number of initiatives already taken to respond to youth crime.