A Dunedin judge is calling for upstanding community members to give up their time and show youth offenders there is an alternative to a life of crime.
After sentencing a 17-year-old on a range of offences in the Dunedin District Court recently, Judge Stephen O'Driscoll said what the boy and others like him needed was a good, positive role model "to show there is an alternative to committing crime and stealing property".
"They steal in order to obtain alcohol and drugs and get involved in driving offences and they put the rest of the community at risk," Judge O'Driscoll, the administering youth court judge for the southern region, said in an interview.
"They are not shown any good examples of behaviour and how to act, or at least have someone show interest in them."
He wished there was a group of men in the community who could spend time with these young people, aged 14-17, taking them fishing, tramping or to work, to show there was an alternative way of life.
"I suspect there is a number of men in the Dunedin community who would have a lot to offer young people who have gone off the rails.
It would be nice to see some of them step forward."
Chief Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft said it had been shown time and time again that mentoring could have a big effect on young people's lives.
Having an older, mature adult provide continuous time and interest in a young person's life was effective as part of a rehabilitation package, he said.
"We have a vast, untapped source of input and help that is grossly under-utilised in New Zealand."
Judge O'Driscoll said since late last year there had been a provision in youth court sentencing to impose a mentoring order but, to his knowledge, that had not been used in Dunedin: "We have no ability to make a formal mentoring order in the district court."
While Dunedin had a very good youth justice system, there was only so much judges, lawyers and Child, Youth and Family could do, he said.
If people were interested in the concept, Judge O'Driscoll urged them to contact Child, Youth and Family and seek to be an approved mentor in the youth court, or contact the probation service.
Sergeant Kevin Davidson, officer in charge of Dunedin Police youth aid, said there was nothing in Dunedin targeted at youth of that age group except "buddy"-type programmes for younger children such as were run by Presbyterian Support.
Opportunities also existed in the family group conference system for suggesting mentoring.
Operation New Direction operates a programme for 10- to 14-year-olds in Dunedin which includes mentoring.
Co-ordinator Ken Uren said he hoped the community would pick up Judge O'Driscoll's idea and run with it but warned adequate support and training was needed for mentors.
He said research in its early stages suggested mentoring reduced offending rates.
However, mentoring programmes did need more funding and resources, as well as structure, to ensure they were a success, he said.
"All too often, if there is no structure, relationships break down. A broken relationship reinforces their low self-esteem and attitude."
