Conciliation can thwart youth crime
Conciliation procedures in criminal cases involving young offenders under 15 have led to a 50-60 percent cut in offences, according to new research published by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
The majority of parties involved in conciliation processes found them to be beneficial, and officials responsible for carrying out conciliation procedures reckon that early intervention in youth crime can stop such criminal behaviour escalating.
The research is based on a study of conciliation efforts carried out in six regions between 1998-2000 and involving 250 cases and 367 children. Most of the cases concerned assault, vandalism and crimes against property. The findings suggest that the best results were achieved using conciliation methods when children were involved in them early on.