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

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

Hello Robyn

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

Kind regards

Fiona

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