N.Z. youth ‘not well defended’

Press, 2 September 1980, Page 7

N.Z. youth ‘not well defended’

PA Wellington Far too many young people are in prison today . because they are defended inadequately in court, Mr M. J. Minogue (National, Hamilton West) told Parliament. He said New Zealand led the civilised world in the rate at which it jailed young people. "There has to be an explanation for this peculiar state of affairs,” Mr Minogue said during the second reading debate on the Criminal Justice Amendment (No. 2) Bill. “I am satisfied from my own observations that in relation to some it is because they are in-

adequately defended in the courts, despite the legal aid system.’’ “In relation to. others I am satisfied that they toe readily plead guilty.” There were cases where people were imprisoned when it was not warranted. “I would say that it was a direct result of Mr Minogue added. He said New Zealand also jailed a disproportionate number of Maoris.

It was time to take a radical new look at the way in which New Zealand might keep more young people out of prison. In regard to Maoris, a way of doing this had been staring the country in the face for many years. This was to return young Maori offenders to the custody of their own families.

“Where a responsible Maori family was prepared to accept custodial responsibility, that • was the logical method of approach.” Mr Minogue said he believed the time had come to depart from the traditional procedure of formal appearance in court, sentence, and imprisonment. The need to look for radical alternatives to custodial sentencing had become a “compelling necessity,”'Mr Minogue said, inadequate, legal defence,”