Youth Court Offending Rates

Abstract | Introduction | Method | Results | Conclusion | References | Appendix 1 Area data | Appendix 2 Raw data

Appendix 1 Area data

Northland

Table A1 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-
16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: Northland Youth Court area

Figure A1 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16
years for 1988-2001: Northland Youth Court area

Figure A1 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: Northland Youth Court area

Figure A1 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: Northland Youth Court area

Figure A1 a) shows that the rate of offenders and cases in Northland was at its lowest in 1991. Although the rates remained relatively static between 1993 and 1997, by 2001 the 1991 rate had doubled. The 2001 rates are comparable to the rates for Northland in 1990. An examination of Figure A1 b) shows that this increase in cases appearing in the Youth Court is one that is greater than average. At the same time Figure A1 c) suggests that this is not due to an increasing rate of reoffending. The ratio is less than or very similar to the national average since 1991.

Greater Auckland

Table A2 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001; Greater Auckland Youth Court area

Figure A2 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001: Greater Auckland Youth Court area

Figure A2 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the nationa l average; Greater Auckland

Figure A1 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national
average: Greater Auckland Youth Court area

Figure A2 a) shows that there was a gradual increase in the rate of cases in Greater Auckland between 1991 and 2001, from 137 to 241. There was also a gradual increase in the offender rates, increasing from 119 in 1991 to 200 in 2001. The rates in 2001 have slightly decreased from those in 1990. Overall this pattern is very similar to the national average through most of the period (see Figure A2 b). The ratio of distinct cases to distinct offenders (see Figure A2 c) is also very similar to the national average. In part, these similarities with the national pattern will be because of the large proportion of the population living in the greater Auckland area.

Waikato

Table A3a Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: Waikato Youth Court area

Figure A3 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001: Waikato Youth Court area

Figure A3 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: Waikato Youth Court area

Figure A1 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: Waikato Youth Court area

Figure A3 a) shows that there has been only a slight change in the rates of cases and offenders appearing in the Youth Court from 1991 to 2001. Thus it is not surprising to find that Figure A3 b) shows a decline in the rate of cases appearing in the Youth Court to the national average. On the other hand the ratio of cases to offenders in Figure A3 c), which is in an indication of the most reoffending in the same court in the one year, is very similar to the national average.

Bay of Plenty

Table A4 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: Bay of Plenty Youth Court area

Figure A4 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001: Bay of Plenty Youth Court area

Figure A4 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: Bay of Plenty Youth Court area

Figure A4 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: Bay of Plenty Youth Court area

Figure A4 a) shows that like Waikato there has been little overall change in the rates of cases and offenders from 1991 through to 2001 except for a dip in 1992 and 1993. Figure A4 b) shows that the rate of cases appearing is, however, higher in almost every year than the national average. It is not clear why this should be so. One factor may be the popularity of the Bay as a teenage summer resort area, which leads to arrests for problem drinking. Another could be the relatively high population of Maori. Changes in policy may also be a factor. Factor A4 c) shows that the ratio of re-appearances by the same offender in the same court in one year is very similar to the national average.

Central Plateau

Table A5 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: Central Plateau Youth Court area

Figure A5 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001: Central Plateau Youth Court area

Figure A5 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: Central Plateau Youth Court area

Figure A5c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: Central Plateau Youth Court area

Figure A5 a) shows that in the last 10 years the rate of distinct cases has increased by 30% and the rate of distinct offenders has increased by a similar amount. Overall Figure A5 b) shows that the rate of cases is considerably higher than the national average. This is relatively hard to explain, as levels of serious offending are unlikely to be particularly high in this area, but it may reflect the relatively high population of Maori in the area. It is possible that police practice in using the Youth Courts is a factor. Figure A5 c) shows that the extent of reappearances in one year in one court is very similar to the national average.

East Coast

Table A6 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: East Coast Youth Court area

Figure A6 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001: East Coast Youth Court area

Figure A6 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: East Coast Youth Court area

Figure A6 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: East Coast Youth Court area

The data above in Figure A6 a) highlights the increase in offender and case rates in the East Coast from 1993 to 1998 followed by a decrease in 1999 and 2000. However, in 2001 rates increased to the levels experienced in 1990. In general, the data in Figure A6 b) indicates that the rate of cases appearing in the Youth Court is, as in other Central North Island areas, higher than the national average except for the year 2000. Again this may reflect the relatively high population of Maori in the area. Figure A6 c) shows that the extent of reappearances in one year in one court is very similar to the national average.

Hawkes Bay

Table A7 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: Hawkes Bay Youth Court area

Figure A7 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001: Hawkes Bay Youth Court area

Figure A7 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: Hawkes Bay Youth Court area

Figure A7 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: Hawkes Bay Youth Court area

Figure A7 a) shows that the rates for both cases and offenders for Hawkes Bay increased considerably from 1994 to 1995, but fell back to the level of the early 1990s in 1999. The rates in 2001 are slightly lower than the 1991 rate, but 2001 rates are nearly half of the 1990 rates. Figure A7 b) indicates that, compared to the national average, Hawkes Bay had a higher rate of cases being referred to the Youth Court up until 1998. Since 1998 the rate has fallen below the national average. It seems likely that this change is due to Police referral practice rather than changes in patterns of youth offending. Figure A7 c) shows that the extent of reappearances in one year in one court is very similar to the national average.

Taranaki

Table A8 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: Taranaki Youth Court area

Figure A8 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001 Taranaki Youth Court area

Figure A8 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: Taranaki
Youth Court area

Figure A8 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: Taranaki Youth Court area

Figure A8 a) for Taranaki illustrates a low rate of appearances from 1991 through to 1994, but offender and case rates began to increase from 1995. By 2001, the rates were double those recorded a decade earlier. The data in Figure A8 b) indicates that the pattern of rate of cases appearing was below the national average up until 1995 and then rose to become similar to or greater than the national average. It seems likely that this may reflect changes in Police referral practice. Figure A8 c) shows that the extent of reappearances in one year in one court is very similar to the national average.

Wanganui

Table A9 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: Wanganui Youth Court area

Figure A9 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001: Wanganui Youth Court area

Figure A9 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: Wanganui Youth Court area

Figure A9 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: Wanganui Youth Court area

Figure A9 a) for Wanganui shows that a fairly level pattern in rates of cases and offenders is evident for 1991 to 1997 with a slight increase in both rates from 1998 onwards. Nevertheless, Figure A9 b) shows that Wanganui has had a consistently lower rate of cases appearing in the Courts than the national average since 1992. This may reflect Police practice and quality of the working relationship between CYF, Police and Courts in Wanganui. Figure A9 c) shows that the extent of reappearances in one year in one court is very similar to the national average.

Manawatu

Table A10 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: Manawatu Youth Court area

Figure A10 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001: Manawatu Youth Court area

Figure A10 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: Manawatu Youth Court area

Figure A10 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: Manawatu Youth Court area

Figure A10 a) for Manawatu shows that after a greater than average drop in rates from 1988 to 1991, rates were stable until 1994, before gradually increasing, with minor peaks in 1995 and 1998. Figure A10 b) shows that the rate of cases per young person aged 14-16 years was considerably less than the national average; about three quarters of the national figures in most years. The reason for this may well lie in the effectiveness with which the local youth justice team have been able to divert cases from the Youth Court. Figure A10 c) shows that the extent of reappearances in one year in one court is very similar to the national average.

Greater Wellington

Table A11 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: Greater Wellington Youth Court area

Figure A11 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001: Greater Wellington Youth Court area

Figure A11 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: Greater Wellington Youth Court area

Figure A11 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: Greater Wellington Youth Court area

Figure A11 a) for Greater Wellington shows that offence and case rates rose steadily until 1996 from the low point in 1991. After 1996 the rates dropped off so that by 2001, they are almost identical to the rates in 1994 for both distinct cases and offences. It seems likely that these changes reflect changes over time in the working relationships among the youth justice team in courts in the area. Figure A11 c) shows that the extent of reappearances in one year in one court is very similar to the national average.

Nelson/Marlborough

Table A12 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: Nelson/Marlborough Youth Court area

Figure A12 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001: Nelson/Marlborough Youth Court area

Figure A12 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: Nelson/Marlborough Youth Court area

Figure A12 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: Nelson/Marlborough Youth Court area

Figure A12 a) shows that, for Nelson/Marlborough, rates dropped to one-fifth of the 1988 level by 1994. Rates then doubled for both cases and offenders in 1996 and 1997 before falling back again in 1998 and 1999. Rates have doubled again from that level since 2000. Nevertheless, as might be expected in an area with smaller population centres, Figure A12 b) shows that relatively fewer cases are being dealt with by the Youth Court compared to the national average. It is possible that changes in practice may explain the fluctuations over the period. Figure A12 c) shows that the extent of reappearances in one year in one court is very similar to the national average, except that the fluctuations noted above coincide with fluctuations in the rate of cases by referral to the Youth Court.

West Coast

Table A13 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: West Coast Youth Court area

Figure A13 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001 West Coast Youth Court area

Figure A13 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: West Coast Youth Court area

Figure A13 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: West Coast Youth Court area

The West Coast had the lowest rate in New Zealand for both distinct cases and offenders in 1988 and was again recording the lowest case rates in 1995 and 1996. Since then, rates on the West Coast have increased, with a dramatic increase between 2000 and 2001; the 2001 rates for both cases and offences are similar to those recorded in 1990. These fluctuations may be misleading as the number of cases and offenders on the West Coast in any one year are very small. Figure A13 b) shows a generally lower rate of cases compared to the national average as might be expected in an area with smaller population centres. The fluctuations indicate that the tendency for West Coast to be lower than the national average was greatest in 1994-1996 and over 1999-2001. Figure A13 c) indicates that the amount of reoffending in one year in specific courts was less than the national average in the years when the rates of cases were lower.

Greater Christchurch

Table A14 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: Greater Christchurch Youth Court area

Figure A14 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001: Greater Christchurch Youth Court area

Figure A14 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: Greater Christchurch Youth Court area

Figure A14 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: Greater Christchurch Youth Court area

Figure A14 a) shows that from its lowest rates in 1991, the rate of cases in Greater Christchurch increased steadily over the following decade, with the 2001 rates for both cases and offenders being more than double the rate for 1991. Figure A14 b) shows that this steady rise has brought Greater Christchurch above the national average since 1999. Figure A14 c) also shows that up until 1997 the ratio of offenders to cases was similar to the national average but that it has increased since then. This may reflect current policies of referring any repeat offending to the Youth Court in the Christchurch area.

Otago

Table A15 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: Otago Youth Court area

Figure A15 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001: Otago Youth Court area

Figure A15 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the national average 1988-2001: Otago Youth Court area

Figure A15 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: Otago Youth Court area

Figure A15 a) reveals that despite a decrease from 2000 levels, the 2001 rates are still higher than those recorded ten years earlier. However, the 2001 rates have decreased by more than 30% compared to the 1990 rates. Thus, as shown in Figure A15 b), although Otago had a rate of cases much lower than the national average from 1992-1995, it actually exceeded the national average in 2000. It would be interesting to know more about any changes in referral practices over this period. Figure A15 c) shows that the extent of reappearances in one year in one court is very similar to the national average.

Southland

Table A16 Number of Youth Court distinct cases and distinct offenders and number of 14-16 year olds for each year 1998-2001: Southland Youth Court area

Figure A16 a) Rates of distinct cases and distinct offenders per 10,000 population aged 14-16 years for 1988-2001: Southland Youth Court area

Figure A16 b) Rates of cases as a percentage of the nationa l average 1988-2001: Southland Youth Court area

Figure A16 c) Ratio of cases to offenders (WYRR) for 1988-2001 compared to national average: Southland Youth Court area

Figure A16 a) reveals that rates for Southland show a decline up to 1991, followed by a gradual increase over the next 10 years. Figure A16 b) shows that although the rate of cases was similar to the national average up until 1998, it has exceeded the national average in the years 1999-2001. This seems surprising and it would be interesting to determine whether or not these changes reflect practice differences. The data in Figure A16 c) show that the proportion of reappearances in the same court in the same year is greater than the national average from 1992-1994 and again in 2000.