Judge Frances Eivers on keeping children out of the criminal justice system
Nov 3, 2023
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Judge Frances Eivers discusses challenges faced by First Nations children in Australia and New Zealand, including colonization and intergenerational trauma. The importance of supporting families and implementing rehabilitative programs is highlighted. Positive changes in the legal system and the significance of empathy in the work of a judge are also explored.
Cultural pride, family, and community support play a crucial role in shaping a child's worldview and interest in justice and law.
In addressing the overrepresentation of indigenous children in the criminal justice system, there is a need for intensive support, rehabilitation, and community-based solutions.
Deep dives
Judge Francis Evers' Background and Shaped Worldview
Judge Francis Evers, the Chief Children's Commissioner of New Zealand, shares her background growing up in a small town and her mixed Māori and Irish heritage. Raised by hardworking parents with a strong sense of social justice, she emphasizes the importance of family, community, and cultural pride in shaping her worldview and interest in justice and law.
Challenges Facing First Nations Children
Judge Francis Evers draws parallels between the challenges faced by First Nations children in Australia and her experiences working with Māori children in New Zealand. She highlights the intergenerational trauma, dislocation from family, and systemic inequities that contribute to the overrepresentation of indigenous children in the care and protection system and the criminal justice system. Judge Evers emphasizes the need for intensive support, rehabilitation, and community-based solutions to address these issues.
Child Protection and Youth Justice Systems in New Zealand
Judge Francis Evers provides an overview of New Zealand's child protection and youth justice systems. She mentions the involvement of the state entity Oranga Tamariki in caring for children, with a focus on keeping them within their families and communities whenever possible. Judge Evers discusses the importance of family group conferences and community-based court sittings, such as at Marae, to create a more supportive and culturally relevant environment for young people involved in the justice system. She advocates for phased closure of institutional facilities and the establishment of community-based care for better outcomes.
Addressing Offending and Punishment
Judge Francis Evers emphasizes the need to understand the underlying factors contributing to youth offending, such as trauma, poverty, and lack of education. She highlights the importance of early intervention and intensive support to address these issues, rather than relying solely on punishment. Judge Evers shares examples of successful initiatives that focus on rehabilitation, collaboration with various agencies, victim-offender interaction, and individualized support to redirect young people's lives towards a better future.