Youth Traffic Offending - Non-imprisonable offences

Fiona Newton made this Official Information request to Ministry of Justice

The request was successful.

From: Fiona Newton

Dear Ministry of Justice,

I am undertaking my dissertation for a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) on the subject of exclusion of non-imprisonable traffic offending from the Youth Justice system (s 272(3)(c), Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989).

I have obtained records from the Police and Statistics Department regarding youth 14-16 and 17 years of age relating to traffic offending. The next step in my research requires consideration of what happens to these youth once they have been fined. I am interested in how the subsequent process of payment, failure to payment, further steps and/or alternative options are dealt with in the District Court/fines department.

I am enquiring whether you have statistics/data available that outlines the numbers of youth with traffic fines (14-16 years and 17 years) and the escalation and/or diversion process if these are not paid. My interest lies in how this is compared with their treatment had they been diverted to the Youth Justice pathway.

As I have been unable to find any research or commentary on this area of law I would be grateful for any assistance and data you are able to provide.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Fiona Newton

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From: Dixon, Robyn
Ministry of Justice


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Good Morning Fiona,

 

I am going to work on getting some data together for you, but wanted to
clarify a few things in your request first.

 

How many years of youth traffic infringements are you after? If more than
one, would like it by calendar or financial year?

 

The age of the youth - how would you like this defined?

·         by how old they would be today/ (perhaps appropriate if only
after 1 year of infringements), or

·         at the they committed the traffic offence

 

If the latter, providing grouped data by age might get a bit confusing to
explain out only because a youth could get a traffic infringement at age
14 and then again at 17 so being double counted under multiple age groups.

 

I am unable to provide diversion information but I can break it down to
those whose collection status is overdue (or not overdue) and if they have
had an alternative sentence such as Community service, Imprisonment, Home
detention.

 

Not all traffic infringements come from the police, some are issued
through local authorities - did you just want police infringements?

 

Also, it will be important to note that not all infringements are referred
through to collections, just the ones that are unpaid after a certain time
- so collection volumes will not match the volumes that you have from
police data, but it appears that you are more concerned with what happens
when they don't pay so shouldn't concern you too much.

 

Feel free to give me a call if you find it easier to discuss than over
email.

 

Kind Regards,

 

   

[1]Description: Robyn Dixon
http://justice.govt.nz/courts/shared/jus...
Analyst | Performance
Information and
Reporting
DDI: +64 4 9787012 |
Ext: 45012 |

[2]www.justice.govt.nz

 

 

 

 

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From: Fiona Newton

Hello Robyn
Thank you for replying so promptly. I did attempt to call you but you were unavailable so will answer your questions and if you need me to call please let me know.
1. Years of data
If it is simple to provide it would be helpful to have back to 1980/81 to align with the Police data. However, that is a lot of information I imagine and if not easily accessible perhaps the last 10 years?
If it could be the financial year that would be good, again to align with the Police data. Again, subject to whether this is the way you are able to extract the data, otherwise calendar year will be fine.
2. Age of offender
At the time of the offending ideally please. I appreciate your comment re double counting thank you. As my interest lies in the number of offences affecting youth, those who are double counted within these periods will still assist in showing the "size" (or lack) of the problem. If you had data outlining how many offenders have multiple offences this would be additionally helpful but I realise this is expanding on your question rather than answering it.
3. Breakdown of alternative penalties
This is ideal thank you.
4. Traffic offending
All traffic offending that is non-imprisonable would be helpful thank you - Police or otherwise. If they could be separated this would assist though as the youth justice system presently starts within the Police framework.
5. Collections
Noted, thank you. Yes, as you say, what I am interested in is how youth are dealt with once they are unable to pay their fines so that I can understand whether the pathways already assist in reducing reoffending or whether they get sucked into the judicial system through outstanding fines.

Thank you so much for your assistance with this. Please let me know if any of this is unclear.

Kind regards

Fiona Newton

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From: Dixon, Robyn
Ministry of Justice

Good Morning Fiona,

Sorry for missing your call, I tend to get out of the office a bit earlier to enjoy the sunshine.

Everything is perfectly clear, thank you.

Our collections database that is currently in use began in 2001 - this system stores fine information at a more granular level, so I would recommend 15 years of data however can give you more if you want.

Cheers,

Robyn.

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From: Fiona Newton

Hello Robyn

15 years is perfect thank you. It will provide some constraints for the Police data.

Kind regards

Fiona

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From: correspondence, collections
Ministry of Justice


Attachment 2016 1552 OIA 59201 Fiona Newton FINAL.pdf
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Attachment Fiona Newton Data.xlsx
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Dear Ms Newton

 

Please find attached response to your email, received on 2 October 2016.

 

Regards

 

Collections National Office

 

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From: Fiona Newton

Dear Robyn

Thank you so much for all your working in putting this information together for me. I will be starting to look at the information from next week when my exams are over.

Thank you also for offering to be available should I have any queries - hopefully I will not have to bother you but I really appreciate your consideration.

I look forward to analysing the data and thank you again for your assistance with this.

Kindest regards

Fiona Newton

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