Parliament's justice committee has been hearing experts on youth justice, the age of criminal responsibility, and better outcomes from alternative approaches to justice.
Political policy is often influenced by the petitions that are sent to Parliament. Often he inform MP's views on a topic, sometimes they lead to changes in law almost single-handedly.
Recently Parliament's Justice Select Committee has spent time considering youth justice including a petition from the Howard League for Penal Reform whose mission is pretty much what it says on the box. The Howard League has requested Parliament "increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 16 years old", up from the current range of ages including for some offences the very low age of 10. The UN's recommended international standard is at least 14 and preferably 16 for adult criminal accountability.
When committees consider petitions they typically hear from the petitioner but also seek submissions from others with relevant experience. This week the Justice Committee considering that petition heard evidence from two experts sharing a mountain of experience.
Human Rights Commission EEO Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Dr Karanina Sumeo gives evidence to Parliament's Justice Select Committee while her fellow submitter -Children's Commissioner Judge Frances Eivers, listens.
Evidence from the front line
Saunoamaali'i Dr Karanina Sumeo is currently the EEO Commissioner for the Human Rights Commission. Her background includes senior roles in child welfare, social policy, and education.
Appearing alongside her was Children's Commissioner Judge Frances Eivers. Her background is as a District Court judge and as a lawyer working particularly in Family, Youth and Criminal Courts.
Both were appearing in support of the aims of the petition. Both came with data but they particularly focussed on telling real world stories of offending youth whose typically poor outcomes were markedly improved by being dealt with via alternative justice methods, particularly family group conferences and a restorative justice approach.
Their focus wasn't entirely the age of offending or of responsibility, but a response to offending that aims to divert a young person from continuing further along a criminal road. They described the causative impacts of abuse and trauma as well as social and cognitive deficits.
Saunoamaali'i Dr Karanina Sumeo drew upon cases from her years in Oranga Tamariki…