Investigating the Relationship Between Perceived Community Safety and the Public's Attitudes Towards the Treatment of Youth Offenders in New Zealand

Sean Mcardle,Sarah Miers,Ian Lambie

doi:10.1017/prp.2018.19

Abstract

While opinions on what should be done with youth offenders vary from person to person, perceived levels of safety and fear of crime have been linked to more punitive attitudes towards crime and punishment. Qualitative methods were employed to explore the attitudes and opinions of members of the New Zealand public with varying levels of community safety in respect to the treatment of youth offenders. Results indicate those who identified as lowest in levels of safety were more punitive in their opinions, though they also expressed a firm desire for progressive treatment options such as rehabilitation and taking preventative action. Those who felt the safest in their community were less likely to be punitive in their opinions towards youth offenders.

Highlights

Crime and law and order have, in the last 10 years, become a major issue of importance for NZ citizens
The results indicated that participants recognised the immaturity of adolescents and the relationship between youth age and criminal responsibility, and further challenged the assumptions that the public supported more punitive policies for youth offenders
More research conducted in New Zealand concerned with costbenefit analysis of these programs is needed to determine the specific monetary benefits, though the proven efficacy and ballpark cost savings make these programs a rare ‘win-win’ situation for policy makers. These findings challenge the assumption that New Zealanders want a ‘tough on crime’ approach to youth offenders

Summary

Introduction

Crime and law and order have, in the last 10 years, become a major issue of importance for NZ citizens. The election in 2002 saw politicians on both sides of the political fence try and gain public support by adopting a ‘tough on crime’ stance. Around this time, pressure groups such as the Sensible Sentencing Trust began to form and gain momentum (Bartlett, 2009; Pratt & Clark, 2005). IdPiuamdd,rpesros:v5id4.e1d97t.h1e8.o10ri2g,inonal0w2oNrokvis20p2r1opate1rl6y:1c3i:t3e2d,.sudbjoeic1t t0o.1th0e17C/apmrpb.r2id0g1e8C.1o9re terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion