Content area
Full text
Pacific youth offenders in Aotearoa New Zealand are over-represented in the rates of violent offences. The purpose of this study was to explore the risk factors that exist amongst this group. Using file data from the New Zealand Police, the offending behaviour and social demographic characteristics of 200 Pacific violent youth offenders aged 10-24 years were investigated. Results revealed that these youth were more likely to be born in Aotearoa, raised in low socio-economic deprivation areas, and that their exposure and involvement in family violence was high. Furthermore, their first known offence to Police was generally of a violent nature. Recommendations for clinical practice and implications for future research are discussed.
Keywords: Pacific youth offenders, youth offenders, youth violent offending
Pacific people are a rapidly growing, diverse and vibrant population. They include those born in the islands and overseas. Within this wider population, the main groups are predominantly Samoan (49%), Cook Islands Maori (21%), Tongan (20%) and Niuean (8%) (Statistics New Zealand, 2014). Recent statistics show that almost two-thirds of Pacific people are born in Aotearoa New Zealand1, urbanised, and make up 7.4% of the total population in Aotearoa. The Pacific population are also a youthful population, with more than half of its population (54.9%) under 25 years old (Statistics New Zealand). Population projections estimate that the number of Pacific people living in Aotearoa will increase by 2.4% per year, an estimate which is higher than for both Māori and Europeans in Aotearoa (Statistics New Zealand, 2010).
The Pacific population typically reside in the most deprived areas of Aotearoa characterised by poverty, inadequate housing and typically, high rates of crime (Ministry of Health & Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, 2004). Statistics continue to report a low number (22.8%) of Pacific secondary school students achieving the requirements to attend university when compared to both Pakehā (48.3%) and Asian secondary school students (65.3%) (Statistics New Zealand and Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, (2010).
Given the fact that the Pacific community in Aotearoa have such a youthful population; and that a number of risk factors exist including poor education (Maguin & Loeber, 1996), antisocial peers (Zimmerman & Messner, 2010), family violence (Reid & Crisafulli, 1990) and poverty (Farrington, 1989),all of which contribute to offending behaviour; any influence...