Father's plea over daughter with $100,000 in fines

A 17-year-old Invercargill woman discharged from the care of Child, Youth and Family (CYF) with $100,000 of fines should be sent to jail rather than start adulthood with what equates to a mortgage, her father said.

The man has spoken out concerned his daughter did not have a decent chance in life with such a huge debt hanging over her.

While he admitted his daughter had been on the wrong side of the law and in and out of CYF care, he was frustrated at the response from the government agency and the youth justice system, he said.

The man has had limited contact with his daughter as he never married her mother and had a protection order taken out against him but has been paying $50 a week maintenance all her life.

The extent of their relationship is encapsulated in a plastic box where he has kept all the documentation relating to her care.

"I have said more to you sitting in here (during an interview) than I have ever said to her."

However, he wants his daughter to have a better life than he has had and starting adult life with what amounted to a mortgage was not right, he said.

A report, written by a social worker on August 19, says the young woman has amassed nearly $100,000 of fines for continually breaching the conditions of her driver's licence.

The woman turned 17 in September and there were no outstanding or new issues that would warrant any further intervention, the report says.

"How could the courts, the lawyer and CYF possibly discharge her as being part of the social welfare and leave her with $100,000 in fines to start life as a young adult," the man said.

"This is a lifetime worth of fines but she still has a lifetime to go.

"I say she owes one hundred grand ... okay send her to jail for six months and kill the bill."

Justice Ministry communications and marketing manager Helen Mojel said the department could not comment on individual cases without a privacy waiver.

People under the age of 25 owe 41 per cent of the value of unpaid infringement fines.

Most were incurred through driving or motor offences, Ms Mojel said.

It was up to the judge presiding over a case to decide if fines would be substituted with jail or community work, she said.

Child, Youth, and Family regional director southern Paula Attrill said the department could assist a youth to comply with conditions set by the courts, which may include paying back fines.

The department endeavoured to work with young offenders to hold them accountable for their offending, while focusing on positive changes they could make, she said.

- NZPA