Holding the youth justice family group conference policy — Key information
Youth justice family group conferences are about holding children and young people to account for their offending and encouraging them to accept responsibility for their behaviour. It is also about acknowledging and addressing their needs and allowing them the opportunity to develop in responsible, beneficial, and socially acceptable ways.
The family group conference’s significant features emphasise whānau or family participation, consensus decision-making and responding to cultural diversity. The process also has a focus on victims and diversion from prosecution.
Supporting and informing family group conferences should strengthen whānau or family and foster their abilities to develop their own means of dealing with offending by their children and young people thus reducing the likelihood of their re-offending.
In addition to this practice guidance, Te Toka Tūmoana, Va'aifetū and the Family Group Conference Practice Standards should inform all family group conference practice.
Practice note: Can the family group conference record differing positions in the plan?
Confidentiality and the family group conference