Officers take new approach to help youths

POLICE officers are being trained to work with families to understand and address the underlying causes of why youths commit crimes and how to stop them.
In what is a departure from the “arrest, charge, convict” approach taken by police on young offenders, a team of police officers are working with families and organisations to address the problem.
Senior Sergeant Henry Aimano of the Juvenile Justice Implementation Team believes that this is the future of policing.
“The way some officers deal with juveniles is not proper. We are used to dealing with adult offenders and use the same way to deal with juvenile offenders. There is not much difference,” Aimano says.
“Police should make crime prevention a priority. If we can deal with the need of the juvenile, we can help the juvenile commit less offences.”
The team, which has the backing of the police hierarchy, is supported by the Australian government.
The plan requires police, court officials and other service providers to be trained on how to deal with young people who come into conflict with the law and to improve their prospects for rehabilitation.
Department of Justice and Attorney-General deputy secretary Nichodemus Mosoro said: “Having a strong, fair and effective juvenile justice system is essential.”