Youth Court Age Debate Escalates | Christchurch News

A controversial youth justice policy floated by the Opportunity Party—raising Youth Court jurisdiction to age 25—sparked outrage from the Sensible Sentencing Trust, who slammed it as dangerously lenient, citing that 25% of sexual violence and 30% of all crimes are committed by 18-25-year-olds. The party quietly removed the “to 25” detail from its website, leaving its leader unable to clarify the new stance. The Trust warns this could shield serious offenders from accountability, reduce public awareness, and encourage more crime—especially for repeat offenders. While the Ministry’s existing Young Adult List keeps these cases in adult courts, the Trust insists fairness doesn’t mean softness, especially when victims’ trust and safety are at stake. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f7f53304fafe69ad