8 Jun 2010

Judge backs new way of paying victims' reparations

2:07 pm on 8 June 2010

Social workers are trialling a new way of helping young offenders to meet reparation payments to the victims of their crimes.

The Principal Youth Court Judge, Andrew Becroft, says the current system, whereby payments are handled by police, social workers or lawyers, is unsatisfactory and chaotic.

He is backing a new system aimed at clearing up confusion about the collection and distribution of payments agreed to in family group conferences.

Under the Child, Youth and Family initiative, the Youth Justice Reparation Accord, offenders deposit funds in a bank account run by Victim Support, which then pays victims out of it.

About 10 offenders already make regular payments under the scheme, which is being tested in three regions and will soon be assessed for nationwide use.