Young people think there is ‘nothing gardai can do’
PEOPLE think there is “nothing gardai can do” about underage crime, but senior gardai say that is not the case.
Speaking at the recent JPC Policing Meeting, Chief Superintendent Finbarr Murphy, acknowledged frustrations, but said the Children’s Act covers a “variety of things we can do between the ages of 12 years of age to 18 years of age”.
He said most of the young people getting into trouble are 15/16/17 and it “tapers off” when they turn 21/23.
Gardai have a Juvenile Diversion Programme and Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLO’s) across the country, to try and divert young offenders away from a life of crime.
“If a young person breaks into a car and steals something, instead of being charged and brought before the courts, it is referred to the juvenile diversion programme, and a juvenile liaison officer meets with the young person and the family,” said Chief Supt Murphy.
“They discuss it, and in many instances, the family step in and put an intervention in place. If it was for drinking alcohol, it may be then that the parent says ‘I’ll look after it’ and we move on from there.
“If it’s more serious, and they are immersed with a group in the area, what happens then is instead of just getting a caution with supervision, a JLO will agree to contact with the young person, agree to be home by 10pm, attend school, meet with the JLO every week.”
Superintendent Finbar Murphy says the Children’s Act covers a variety of things
If a youth continues to offend, and juvenile supports are “exhausted”, they will be charged and brought to court.
The Chief Supt also mentioned the restorative justice programme, which brings a young person who has committed a crime, face to face with a victim or a representative of the victim.
He recalled a case where a woman’s mobile phone was stolen, the youth showed no remorse.
“The youth’s grandmother met the victim, who said the last voicemail on her phone was from her fiancé, who had since died.
“That young person had lost their own father in a short period before that. The dynamic of that intervention was phenomenal, so much so, the victim of the crime, who was involved in sailing, took the young person sailing with them to show them skills they could develop in life,” said Chief Supt Murphy.
