Budget fact sheets 2007 - more funding for Supported Bail Programme

The Government is investing more than $1.3m over the next year in the Supported Bail Programme for young people on remand from the Youth Court to ensure they comply with their bail conditions.

Operating since 2005, the programme delivers services in seven locations including Whangarei, South Auckland, Hamilton, Hawkes Bay, New Plymouth, Christchurch and Invercargill.

Aimed at reducing youth re-offending of 14 to 16 year olds and keeping young people out of police cells, supported bail provides one-on-one case management by community youth workers including an individual supervised day programme.

Each young person develops a joint plan in partnership with Police, their family/whanau, their Child, Youth and Family social worker, and their service provider.

Their plan will include a range of activities aimed at addressing their offending, providing educational or vocational training and positive social recreational activities, as well as improving health and family relationships.

Preliminary evaluation findings show two-thirds had not re-offended while on the programme with 95 percent attending all their required court appearances.  Those who had re-offended committed less serious offences.

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