Procedures Manual Youth Justice Conferencing

Source: (2003) New South Wales, Australia: Department of Juvenile Justice. Downloaded 31 August 2004.

In August 1997, the Department of Juvenile Justice established its Youth Justice Conferencing Directorate. The Directorate has been responsible for the establishment, and, since 6 April 1998, the operation, of youth justice conferences throughout New South Wales. The Directorate established an administration for the scheme with administrators supported by clerical officers and other departmental staff in seventeen locations throughout the State. Administrators are responsible for dealing with conference referrals from police and courts, the allocation and supervision of convenors for conferences, the monitoring of conference outcomes and the recruitment, selection and training of conference convenors. Conference convenors are statutory office holders appointed by the Director General for a period of twelve months for the purposes of organising and facilitating youth justice conferences. Conferences aim to provide a balanced response to juvenile crime that minimises the labelling of young offenders as criminal, supports their (re)integration into family and community, responds to offending behaviour directly and efficiently and emphasises acceptance of responsibility by the young person. The conference shifts the responsibility for administering justice from the state to the community.

This procedures manual is a guide for the administration and operation of conferences. It is an evolving document that will take into account improvements in and changes to procedures. It is designed to encourage and seeks to ensure the development and maintenance of best practice in youth justice conferences. (excerpt)