The New Zealand Government has announced it will establish military-style training academies as part of a new plan to crack down on serious youth offending.
Childrens Minister, Karen Chhour, today said the nation’s new Coalition Government would deliver on its promise to create Young Offender Military Academies.
“As part of the 100-day plan, the government made it clear it was going to crack down on serious youth offending,” said Ms Chhour.
“We’re committed to creating more tools to respond to the most serious and persistent young offenders. This includes the establishment of military-style academies and the creation of a new Young Serious Offender designation.
“We intend for a pilot for a military-style academy to be operating from the middle of this year.”
She said the academy will have a military-style component as well as a rehabilitative and trauma-informed care approach to help young people turn their lives around and reduce their risk of reoffending.
“I’m confident this programme will deliver the real change needed for many youth offenders. It will show them actually, there are consequences for their actions, but also that with a disciplined and structured environment they can turn their life around.”
