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Exploring Ways the Youth Court System Can Address Youth Mental Health and Reduce Youth Offending: A New Zealand
Jemma Stephens1, Helen Butler2, Terryann C Clark2
1Author Affiliations: Tu Maia, Auckland District Health Board, Greenlane, Auckland, New Zealand.
Background:
Changes to New Zealand's Oranga Tamariki Act in 2019, saw 17-year-olds moved from adult to youth jurisdiction. This study described mental distress experienced by 17-year-olds appearing in Youth Court compared to their high school peers.
Methods:
Seventeen-year-olds in the youth justice (YJ) system between 2019 and 2021 were compared to 17-year-olds in the Youth19 survey (Y19) by demographic characteristics, types, and prevalence of mental distress.
Results:
YJ 17-year-olds experienced greater exposure to family violence, parental separation, and child protection compared to their Y19 peers. Depressive symptoms (OR 10.5, p < 0.0001), suicidality (OR 7.8, p < 0.0001), and cannabis use (OR 3.2, p < 0.001) were significantly more common when compared to Y19, with Māori males disproportionately affected.
Conclusions:
Seventeen-year-olds in YJ experience elevated levels of poverty, trauma, and mental health distress. Criminalizing trauma and mental distress is preventable. Forensic clinicians must facilitate evidence-based culturally safe mental health and addiction rehabilitation as part of a crime prevention strategy.
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