Getting tough on youth crime? Public support for punitive youth justice policies in Aotearoa New Zealand

• In Event: Public attitudes towards crimes, punishments and policies

Abstract

In Aotearoa New Zealand, as in many countries around the world, youth justice policies have cycled between rehabilitative and punitive approaches. In 2024, this cyclical trend continued when the formation of a centre-right coalition government in New Zealand ushered in a renewed emphasis on punishment-based measures, including the reintroduction of military style academies (i.e., boot camps). Despite scientific evidence questioning their effectiveness, public support for these policies remains high. The current research provides a timely exploration into public support for punitive youth justice policies and identifies the primary predictors of such support. Drawing on a survey of adult residents in New Zealand, we examine previously established predictors of public attitudes toward punitive criminal justice policies, such as education and political ideology, as well as predictors specific to youth offending, such as the belief that young people can change. Our findings shed light on how people’s views toward youth justice are shaped, providing valuable insights for shifting public views towards more evidence-based approaches.

Authors

• Julia Yesberg, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

• Clare-Ann Fortune, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand