This book is only available in PDF format

Published: 16 May 2011
Pages: 305

From the Chair

The last Youth Advocates’ Conference was in Wellington in August 2004.  A lot has changed in the field of youth justice since that time.

There have been legislative changes, such as the passing of the Children Young Persons and Their Families (Youth Court Jurisdiction and Orders) Amendment Act 2010.  Changes to practice, such as the development of Rangatahi Courts, and in the District and High Courts clarification of the applicability of youth justice principles in sentencing (Pouwhare v R (2010) 24 CRNZ 868).

Youth advocacy is rightly considered a specialist area of practice.  Youth advocates represent the most vulnerable participants in the criminal justice system.  Their work involves the, at times uncomfortable, marriage of the criminal law, youth justice principles and care and protection principles.  With the advent of criminal liability for purely indictable charges for 12 and 13 year olds, the high degree of expertise and specialisation required has become even more necessary than before.

Allied with a youth advocate’s ethical and professional obligations to maintain and develop the skills necessary to fulfil their function, is the statutory duty in s 324(1) of the Children Young Persons and their Families Act to represent a child or young person as if retained by them to provide representation.

It is therefore essential that youth advocates take every opportunity to keep up to date with developments in this specialist area and retain and develop the skills necessary to discharge their essential function within the youth justice system.

The Youth Advocates’ Conference in May 2011 is an unmissable opportunity to do this.  The conference will cover developments in the law and practice and give you the opportunity to share your knowledge and experience with your peers.

Chair:

Lance Rowe, Armstrong Barton, Whanganui

Authors

Author(s): His Hon Judge Becroft, Jackie Anderson, Clare Bennett, Sonja Cooper, Gary Earley, Mike Gardam, Craig Horsley, Ian Lambie, Lance Rowe, Claire Ryan, Anne Stevens, His Hon Judge Taumaunu