Key Takeaways
- Oranga Tamariki is planning to run a second boot camp for serious youth offenders in March 2026, despite the law not being changed yet.
- The program will be voluntary and will house teenagers at the Te Au rere a te Tonga youth justice residence in Palmerston North.
- The Responding to Serious Youth Offending Amendment Bill, which would enable a judge to sentence a teenager to time in a military-style academy, has had its first reading in Parliament.
- Opponents have raised concerns that boot camps are ineffective at reducing youth offending and have criticized the government for recruiting for the program before the legislation is in place.
Introduction to Oranga Tamariki’s Plans
Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry for Children, is planning to run its second boot camp for serious youth offenders in March next year, using a new design. This comes despite the Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, saying earlier this week that no date had been set for the program. The ministry has told a scrutiny hearing that it was "giving some thought" to running a second boot camp prior to the law being changed. In response to inquiries, Oranga Tamariki has sketched out its plans and preparation, which it says are well advanced.
The Boot Camp Program
The boot camp program will take teenagers who volunteer, like the pilot last year, and will be housed at the same Te Au rere a te Tonga youth justice residence in Palmerston North. The program is designed to provide a military-style academy for serious youth offenders, with the goal of reducing reoffending rates. However, opponents have raised concerns that boot camps have been found to be ineffective at reducing youth offending in the past. The evaluation report on the pilot program said it created "meaningful and positive change" for the young people, but was constrained by rushed implementation and a lack of continuity around therapeutic support.
Legislation and Criticism
The Responding to Serious Youth Offending Amendment Bill, which would enable a judge to sentence a teenager to time in a military-style academy, has had its first reading in Parliament. However, the bill has been criticized by opponents, who argue that it is unnecessary and ineffective. Labour MP Willow-Jean Prime has raised concerns that the government is progressing with the legislation before the first pilot was completed, and that they are now running a second program before the legislation is passed. Green MP Kahurangi Carter has also been critical of the minister and officials for saying there were no definite decisions but recruiting for the program before the legislation is in place.
Planning and Preparation
Despite the criticism, Oranga Tamariki says that its planning and preparation for the delivery of the boot camp program are well advanced. The ministry has been recruiting for psychologists, case leaders, residential youth workers, and other personnel. The program lead, Janet Mays, has said that the evaluation of the pilot program identified lessons learned, such as the need for stronger Iwi engagement, improved transition planning, and more support for kaimahi. These lessons are being integrated into the new design. The physical infrastructure for the program remains in place in Palmerston North, and the ministry says that it can keep supporting young people through the program.
Concerns and Controversies
However, concerns and controversies surrounding the boot camp program remain. Opponents have repeatedly raised concerns that boot camps have been found to be ineffective at reducing youth offending. The evaluation report on the pilot program said that it needed to have engaged with mana whenua earlier and supported whānau earlier, before the rangatahi returned home. The program has also been criticized for its lack of continuity around therapeutic support and its rushed implementation. Despite these concerns, Oranga Tamariki says that it is committed to delivering the program and providing support to young people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Oranga Tamariki is planning to run a second boot camp for serious youth offenders in March 2026, despite the law not being changed yet. The program has been criticized by opponents, who argue that it is unnecessary and ineffective. However, the ministry says that its planning and preparation for the delivery of the program are well advanced, and that it is committed to providing support to young people. The controversy surrounding the boot camp program highlights the need for careful consideration and evaluation of programs aimed at reducing youth offending, and the importance of prioritizing the needs and well-being of young people.