More jail units for teens

New Zealand will get two more specialist units for youth offenders.

The extra units will be at Christchurch and Wellington prisons, Corrections Minister Matt Robson said yesterday.

As well, the Hawkes Bay youth unit, opened last October, would be expanded.

Another unit opened at Waikeria Prison near Te Awamutu last month.

"Our aim is to target young offenders by keeping them away from hardened adult criminals and keeping them busy all day, every day, in tough, effective programmes," Mr Robson said.

"This is not a soft option. These young people work hard, they are safe, the community is safe and, hopefully, we stop them reoffending in the future."

The two new units and the Hawkes Bay extension would cost $6.4 million and would be in place by March.

They would increase the number of beds in specialised youth facilities by 90 to 142.

Mr Robson said reducing youth offending was important; 90 per cent of youngsters reoffended within five years of their release.

Overseas research showed units specifically designed for youth, with programmes targeted at adolescents, significantly reduced reoffending.

"The secret to the success is what happens inside these units," he said.

"All inmates are initially assessed for suicide and self-harm risk. Then they undertake a specialised, adolescent development programme.

"The aim is to fill their days with schooling, work, sport and programmes targeting the reasons for their offending."

- NZPA