New Zealand to create young offender military academies

WELLINGTON -- The New Zealand government plans to create Young Offender Military Academies to reduce the risk of reoffending, Children's Minister Karen Chhour said on Tuesday.

The approach was to create more tools to respond to the most serious and persistent young offenders, including the establishment of military-style academies and the creation of a new Young Serious Offender designation, Chhour said.

The pilot for a military-style academy will be operating from the middle of this year, which will have a military component as well as a rehabilitative and trauma-informed care approach to help these young people turn their lives around and reduce their risk of reoffending, she said.

The multi-agency program will deliver the real change needed for many youth offenders who will be shown consequences for their actions, but also that "with a disciplined and structured environment they can turn their life around," the minister said.

Legislative changes are being worked through to enable stronger consequences for young people who are committing crimes.

New Zealand has been targeting prolific youth offending for years. Last July, a new offense was created for ram raiding, enabling youngsters alleged to have committed the crime to be charged in the Youth Court, with a maximum sentence of 10 years.