NCJ Number
161307
Date Published
1996
Length
23 pages
Annotation
Data on family group conferences for more than 200 juvenile offenders in New Zealand in 1990 and 1991 and a review of government reports formed the basis of an analysis of the fairness and appropriateness of this approach to juvenile justice, as well as its implementations, outcomes, and potential.
Abstract
The analysis noted that the principles underlying family group conferences are new, radical, and exciting in that they emphasize diversion, restorative justice, and responding to the needs of youth through strengthening families and acknowledging cultural differences. Results revealed that these conferences have had a substantial impact on practice. They have achieved diversionary outcomes for the great majority of young offenders and have held nearly all the young people accountable for their offenses. Families are generally participating in the decisionmaking and are taking responsibility for their young people. Extended families are often becoming involved as an alternative to foster care and institutions. The customs of different cultural groups are receiving greater acknowledgment. Many victims report satisfaction with outcomes. However, crucial questions have been raised about the system's fairness, its potential coerciveness, and its ability to achieve its ideals. Although the process has greater potential than traditional processes to achieve these goals, much depends on practice, resources, and the systems that support the processes. Deficiencies in these areas appear to hamper the achievement of the procedure's goals. 31 references