Abuse in State Youth Justice care
This inquiry will examine and report on abuse in State-based Youth Justice care in Aotearoa.
This means the abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults in (or while being transferred to, between, or out of) youth justice residences, borstals, youth prisons, detention centres, corrective training institutions and other youth justice placements.
It also includes is abuse of children and young people in adult prisons where they were also in State care at the time, and in court cells, police cells, other police custody and remand facilities. As well as abuse while being transferred to, between, or out of these places.
The voices and experiences of victims and survivors of abuse in State Youth Justice care will be at the centre of this inquiry as we investigate and make findings on what happened and why.
We will make recommendations on steps the State should take to address the harm caused and changes to be made so that the factors that allowed abuse to occur in State Youth Justice care do not persist in the future.
Providing information to the investigation
At this stage of the inquiry primarily this will be done through the Legal Assistance programme.
People who experienced abuse as a child, young person or vulnerable adult in State Youth Justice care have important information for this inquiry.
Families and whānau of people who were abused, and from people who worked in State Youth Justice facilities, or who witnessed or were aware of abuse in these places may also want to share their experience.
Sharing your experience means the Inquiry can make findings about what happened and meaningful recommendations for change.
Sharing experiences of abuse will be difficult, and if you make that decision to do so we will make sure you have wellbeing support that is right for you. Please access the wellbeing information and contact page if you need support at any time.
If you want to share your experience with us then please contact us confidentially on 0800 222 727 or email: contact@abuseincare.org.nz. You can also email us and ask someone to call you back.
