Nats plan boot camps for youth criminals
Updated 1:40PM Tuesday January 29, 2008
By Edward Gay
National leader John Key said he will get tough on youth crime and what he describes as "unexploded time-bombs on a fast-track to Paremoremo".
In his state of the nation speech at a hotel in Ellerslie this afternoon, Mr Key said National would introduce army boot camps as part of Fresh Start Programmes, double the length of residential sentences and issue electronic bracelets for those who do not comply with court ordered supervision contracts.
He said the Youth Court will also have its jurisdiction increased to hear cases involving 12 and 13 year-old offenders. Currently the minimum age is 14.
He also pledged parenting courses, mentoring programmes and drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
His speech comes after a series of high-profile murders during January, in which young men have been either accused of the crime or victims.
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