Youth given their orders out of court

 

13 Nov, 2008 08:58 AM

A Cooma solicitor is unsure about whether a Youth Conduct Orders Program being trialed in some areas of the state this month would work if it was to be implemented in Cooma, which has a low youth offender rate.

The two-year trial would see young offenders in New England, Campbelltown and Mount Druitt, who commit low-level anti social offences, such as graffiti, possession of knives or alcohol and theft placed on a Youth Conduct Order for up to 12 months instead of being dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.

Blaxland Mawson and Rose Associate Emma Schlachter said there were very few cases of youth offenders between the ages of 14 and 17 before the court in Cooma.

"A very rough estimate would be about one maybe two cases a month," she said.

Ms Schlachter said the orders were a less punitive approach to dealing with young people. Conditions of the order could include strict limitations on the offender's movements, school attendance and counselling requirements and non-association orders.

Ms Schlachter said the system could have implications if introduced into rural areas, such as Cooma, because unlike their city counterparts, country kids have fewer options available to them, which could make adhering to a Youth Conduct Order difficult.
"If you say to young people you can't hang out in Sharp Street any more or you can't see these people, then where do they go and what do they do?" she asked.

"They're trialling it in New England, which has a very similar situation to Cooma, so it will be interesting to see what the results there are," she said.

COOMA MONARO EXPRESS NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

 

 

 

 

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