Youth offending scheme proves expensive failure

A scheme which spent $15,000 each on 163 young criminals has failed to reduce their offending.

Results of the three-year pilot of Reducing Youth Offending - which cost taxpayers $2.4 million - show no difference between those who participated and a control group of equally bad young offenders. The scheme is jointly run by the Corrections Department and Child Youth and Family.

The pilot involved social workers working with 14 to 17-year-olds to identify what motivated their offending.

A revised programme will target high-risk 10-to 14-year-olds.

- NZPA