Delivering better publıc servıces BETTER PUBLIC SERVICE RESULT 7 REDUCING SERIOUS CRIME RESULT ACTION PLAN

Transcription

1 Delivering better publıc servıces BETTER PUBLIC SERVICE RESULT 7 REDUCING SERIOUS CRIME RESULT ACTION PLAN MARCH

2 CONTENTS 3 Foreword from the Minister of Justice 4 Refreshing the justice sector s plan for achieving our BPS target 5 Our overall strategy 6 Measuring success 8 What we're doing to achieve results 10 Reduce family violence 12 Reduce sexual violence 14 Reduce serious crime caused by adult gangs 16 Improve justice outcomes for people with alcohol and other drug, and mental health needs 18 Improve justice outcomes for Māori 20 Reduce reoffending 22 Prevent serious crime through active engagement with the social sector 2017 Crown copyright PUBLISHED BY THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE Although all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this document, the Ministry of Justice disclaims any and all responsibility for any inaccuracy, error, omission, or any other kind of inadequacy, deficiency, or flaw in, or in relation to, the information; and fully excludes any and all liability of any kind to any person or entity that chooses to rely upon the information. 2

3 Foreword from the Minister of Justice People in New Zealand want and deserve to feel safe at home and in their communities. In 2012, Better Public Services (BPS) targets were introduced to achieve results that make a difference to the lives of people in New Zealand. Ten specific results were identified across 5 result areas. The justice sector was responsible for one result area (reducing crime), with specific targets to reduce total crime and reoffending rates. BPS targets have helped drive strong performance across the justice sector. The crime rate continues to be lower now than before BPS targets were introduced. Despite this, we know we still face some serious and complex challenges. Even as we have succeeded in reducing the number of people who reoffend, the rate of reoffending is still too high. The proportion of serious offending in our communities also needs to be addressed. This year, the Government will be introducing new BPS targets. This means that 5 years after being introduced, we now have an opportunity to refresh our BPS targets so they remain a powerful driver of improved public services. From this year, the justice sector s new goal is to reduce serious crime. The target is 10,000 fewer serious crimes in 2021 than in the year ended June Our new target reflects the Government s unambiguous focus on serious crime, which has the greatest impact on people in New Zealand. Serious crime has significant social and economic costs. It affects people s ability to interact with each other, lead productive lives, and realise their full potential. That is why we are introducing this new, ambitious target. We know what a difference a reduction in crime can have on people s lives from the success we ve had with our current targets. We re also taking what we have learned since the inception of BPS, and turning it into comprehensive action across the justice and wider social sectors. This is supported by the Investment Approach to Justice, which uses rigorous and evidence-based investment practices to better understand what works to reduce crime. It is also reflected in the 2017 Criminal justice sector four-year plan, which represents the justice sector s shared commitment to a set of priorities that identify where it can make the biggest difference to improve justice outcomes. Progress against our BPS target will be reported on the State Services Commission website (ssc.govt.nz) every 6 months. We will continue to report on a number of supporting measures, including rates of family violence, sexual violence and reoffending. In addition to our BPS measures, we will be reporting to Cabinet every 6 months on targets it agreed as part of the Safer Communities investment package. An example of one of these targets is 10% fewer deaths from family violence. Collectively, this will ensure the whole justice sector remains focused on tackling some of the most complex social issues facing New Zealand. The public can also monitor how the justice sector is tracking, and hold us accountable for making sure people feel safe at home and in their communities. Hon Amy Adams Minister of Justice 3

4 Refreshing the justice sector s plan for achieving our BPS target This refreshed plan sets out new actions to address the most harmful effects of crime. Our current results have succeeded in reducing levels of crime. It is now time to focus on more serious offending, which inflicts the most harm on society and victims. We are therefore replacing our existing targets for reducing rates of total crime and reoffending with a target to reduce the serious crime rate. The justice sector s new BPS target is 10,000 fewer serious crimes by the year ended June The new target will continue to be supported by 3 measures: the rate of reoffending, rate of family violence, and the rate of sexual violence. The family and sexual violence rates have been excluded from the main target as we expect the number of reported offences for these crimes to increase as rates of reporting and detection increase. They are included as supporting measures as they are serious crime and are of significant interest to us. The reoffending rate will now be monitored through a redeveloped supporting measure as we now have one justice sector target, not two as we did in the previous suite of BPS result measures. Our refreshed target and supporting measures will give the justice sector a single, unambiguous focus on the crime which has the greatest impact on people in New Zealand. 4

5 Our overall strategy The justice sector is taking an investment approach to improving the lives of New Zealanders by applying rigorous and evidence-based investment practices to better understand what works to reduce serious crime. This means using greater information sharing and access to data to better understand the people who are at risk of future offending or of becoming victims, better understand what works to reduce serious crime and to consider changes to crime prevention services accordingly. The 2017 Criminal justice sector four-year plan identifies priorities and supporting actions to achieve the justice sector s objectives. Many of these directly contribute to the BPS target of reducing crime. We will continue to review our current work programme to ensure we are doing enough to meet our targets and will refresh the BPS results action plan accordingly. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SECTOR OBJECTIVES Maintain law and order, focussing on minimising harm and victimisation Bring perpetrators to justice Provide rehabilitation for offenders to reduce reoffending CRIMINAL JUSTICE SECTOR 4 YEAR PLAN PRIORITIES Better meet the needs of the most at-risk New Zealanders Meet our Better Public Services targets Reduce pressure across the justice pipeline Increase our collective ability to achieve our shared goals BPS TARGET REDUCE SERIOUS CRIME 10,000 fewer serious crimes by 2021 SUPPORTING MEASURES FAMILY VIOLENCE RATE SEXUAL VIOLENCE RATE REOFFENDING RATE 5

6 Measuring success BETTER PUBLIC SERVICES TARGET The justice sector s headline BPS target is to reduce serious crime (BPS Result Area 7). The target is 10,000 fewer serious crimes by 2021, based on the number of serious crimes in the year ended June This is 22,000 fewer serious crimes than is otherwise currently predicted for Achieving this target will be a significant challenge as the serious crime rate is currently increasing following a period of decline in total crime, which removed a large number of the less serious offences. The serious crime rate measure comes from Recorded Crime Victim Statistics (RCVS), divided by the New Zealand estimated population (baseline June 2017). RCVS is published on the New Zealand Police website, while New Zealand population estimates are published on the Statistics New Zealand website. SUPPORTING MEASURE FAMILY VIOLENCE RATE This will be the number of violent offences where the identified offender had a familial relationship with the victim, as a proportion of the New Zealand population. Specifically, this will be the number of family violence offences per 10,000 people where family violence is defined by the relationship between the offender and victim as recorded in RCVS. SUPPORTING MEASURE SEXUAL VIOLENCE RATE This will be the number of sexual offences as a proportion of the New Zealand population. Specifically, this will be the number of sexual violence offences per 10,000 people where sexual violence is counted as sexual assault and related offences in the RCVS. SUPPORTING MEASURE REOFFENDING RATE The current reoffending measure has been redeveloped to measure the number of reoffenders as a rate relative to the New Zealand population. Specifically, this will be measured by the number of release prisoners returning to prison within 12 months of release and the number of people reconvicted within 12 months of starting a community managed sentence per 10,000 people. Serious crime victimisations 141,000 JUNE ,000 JUNE ,000 JUNE ,000 JUNE ,000 JUNE ,000JUNE ,000 JUNE ,000 JUNE 2016 TARGET 131,000 10,000 FEWER SERIOUS CRIMES 6

7 2017 CRIMINAL JUSTICE SECTOR FOUR-YEAR PLAN In addition to, and in support of the government s BPS targets, the justice sector has identified a range of priorities for the next 4 years. These are set out in the 2017 Criminal justice sector four-year plan and the priorities that directly contribute the achieving the BPS are listed below. The actions to implement these priorities are outlined in this action plan. FOUR-YEAR PLAN PRIORITIES Reduce family violence Reduce serious crime caused by adult gangs Improve outcomes for people with alcohol and other drug, and mental health needs Improve justice outcomes for Māori Prevent serious crime through active engagement with the social sector SAFER COMMUNITIES TARGETS In February 2017, Cabinet agreed several justice/social sector targets as part of the Safer Communities investment package. These targets support our BPS target as well as priorities identified in the 2017 Criminal justice sector four-year plan. JUSTICE/SOCIAL SECTOR TARGETS 10% fewer deaths from family violence (on a three-year rolling baseline) 25% reduction in reoffending by Māori by June 2025 Reducing assaults on children (target TBC) Re-engagement of youth in education (target TBC) 7

8 What we're doing to achieve results The actions we are taking to achieve our goals are summarised in the flowchart on the next page. Some of these actions will contribute to more than one specific area, but all contribute to our BPS target of less serious crime. Our goals recognise that we must target areas of greatest risk. They also recognise that offending is highly correlated with outcomes across the social sector and we therefore need to work with the wider social system to meet the target of reducing crime. 10,000 FEWER SERIOUS CRIMES by

9 BETTER PUBLIC SERVICES RESULT AREA 7 REDUCE SERIOUS CRIME 10,000 fewer serious crimes by 2021 SUPPORTING MEASURES Family violence rate Sexual violence rate Reoffending rate To contribute to meeting this target, we will Reduce family violence Reduce sexual violence Reduce serious crime caused by adult gangs Improve outcomes for people with alcohol and other drug, and mental health needs Improve justice outcomes for Māori Reduce reoffending Prevent serious crime through active engagement with the social sector These work streams will contribute to achieving these outcomes Ministerial Group on Family Violence and Sexual Violence work programme (cross-agency): Integrated Safety Response pilot New family violence risk assessment tool Review of Family and Whānau Violence Legislation Bill Whāngaia Ngā Pā Harakeke Ministerial Group on Family Violence and Sexual Violence work programme (cross-agency) Sexual violence service development: (supporting action) Sexual violence crisis support services Harmful sexual behaviour services Services for male survivors of sexual abuse Whole of Government Action Plan on Gangs (cross-agency) NZ Gang Strategy (cross-agency) Department of Corrections Gang Strategy Cross-agency strategic approach to mental health and wellbeing Drug and Alcohol Testing of Community-based Offenders, Bailees and Other Persons Legislation Bill, and additional services: Enhanced mental health support Wrap-around family support Counsellors and social workers in women s prisons Supported accommodation Mental health gap analysis Investment in alcohol and other drug treatment and support, and better mental heath for offenders Māori justice outcomes strategy and action plan The Turning of the Tide strategy Policing Excellence: the Future Safer Whānau Rangatahi Courts Prisoner education Access to interventions in prison Community reintegration support (eg Out-of-Gate, Release-to-Work, Reintegration Teams) Mauri Tu, Mauri Ora programme Wrap-around services Integration Safety Response pilot Restorative justice services Community justice/iwi panels Therapeutic courts Children s Action Plan Youth Crime Action Plan Investing in Children Programme Place-based initiatives Cross-agency approach to mental health and addiction Investment Approach to Justice Cross-agency governance boards and working groups 9

10 OUTCOME Reduce family violence 10

11 LEAD AGENCIES Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Justice, Department of Corrections, NZ Police, Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki, Ministry of Health MEASURES Family violence rate (BPS supporting measure) Reducing assaults on children (Safer Communities target) 10% fewer deaths from family violence by 2015 (Safer Communities target) WHY THIS MATTERS Family violence has a devastating impact on people and communities across the country. New Zealand has some of the highest reported rates of family violence in the developed world. Agencies are therefore committed to working together to ensure that victims and families get help tailored to their needs, and that perpetrators are held to account and supported to change their behaviour. ACTIONS OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS The Ministerial Group on Family Violence and Sexual Violence has a cross government work programme featuring a wide range of initiatives to stop violence from occurring, reduce the harm it causes, and break the cycle of re victimisation and reoffending. The work programme is also focused on improving and coordinating existing services. It includes: Integrated Safety Response pilot to test a new multi agency approach to address the needs of people at a crisis point. It takes a whole of whānau approach to ensuring the immediate safety of victims and children, and to working with perpetrators to prevent further violence. New family violence risk assessment tool to replace the current tool used by Police. This fits within the Family Violence Risk Assessment and Management Framework to ensure a consistent approach to screening, risk assessment and management of family violence. The Family and Whānau Violence Legislation Bill will strengthen family violence laws and focus on intervening as soon as possible to reduce future violence. Legislation is only part of the solution, but this law will provide some levers and tools to help protect victims and hold perpetrators to account. Whāngaia Ngā Pā Harakeke is an initiative to prevent and reduce the intergenerational effects of family violence and reduce the over representation of Māori as victims and offenders of this crime type. OTHER BPS RESULT AREAS WILL ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT The justice sector is interested in the correlation Result Area 4: Safer kids Reduce assaults and abuse of children might have on the family violence rate. 11

12 OUTCOME Reduce sexual violence 12

13 LEAD AGENCIES Accident Compensation Corporation, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki, NZ Police, Department of Corrections, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health MEASURES Sexual violence rate (BPS supporting measure) Reducing assaults on children (Safer Communities target) WHY THIS MATTERS Sexual violence has a devastating impact on people and communities across the country. New Zealand has amongst the highest reported rates of sexual violence in the developed world. There were over 186,000 incidents of sexual assault against adults in 2013, and 24% of women and 6% of men reported that they experienced sexual violence at some time in their lives. Young people, people with disabilities, and Māori and Pasifika peoples are over represented as victims. ACTIONS OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS The Ministerial Group on Family Violence and Sexual Violence has a cross government work programme featuring a wide range of initiatives to stop violence from occurring, reduce the harm it causes, and break the cycle of re victimisation and reoffending. The work programme is also focused on improving and coordinating existing services. SUPPORTING ACTIONS UNDERWAY ACROSS THE SOCIAL SECTOR Development of sexual violence services: Sexual Violence Crisis Support Services development and implementation of crisis support services that are culturally responsive, based on good practice, are accessible and readily available to those affected by sexual violence. Harmful Sexual Behaviour Services development and implementation of assessment and treatment services for non mandated adults who display harmful sexual behaviour. Services for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse development and implementation of accessible and sustainable services for male survivors of sexual abuse that support their ongoing recovery. OTHER BPS RESULT AREAS WILL ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT The justice sector is interested in the contribution Result Area 4: Safer kids Reduce assaults and abuse of children could have on the sexual violence rate. 13

14 OUTCOME Reduce serious crime caused by adult gangs 14

15 LEAD AGENCIES NZ Police, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Justice, Department of Corrections, NZ Customs Service, Immigration NZ, Housing NZ, Department of Internal Affairs, Inland Revenue, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Te Puni Kōkiri MEASURES Reoffending rate (BPS supporting measure) 25% reduction in reoffending by Māori by 2025 (Safer Communities target) WHY THIS MATTERS Gangs cause harm both internally by harming themselves, other gang members, and gang involved women and children; and externally by committing criminal offences and endangering community safety. While representing only 0.1% of the population, gang members are responsible for 8% of offending on average across all serious charge types. Gang members and prospects were also involved in 252 family violence occurrences in November 2016 alone. Children of gang involved parents are at greater risk of child abuse, neglect and witnessing violence between their parents; and are more likely to be exposed to family risk factors known to be associated with poor life outcomes. As around 70% of gang offenders in prison are Māori, reducing reoffending by gang members will also contribute to reducing reoffending by Māori generally. ACTIONS OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS As part of the Whole of Government Action Plan on Gangs, agencies are: establishing a multi agency Gang Intelligence Centre to combine intelligence to better target and focus various gang interventions developing a package of social interventions targeted to gang families to reduce harm to partners and children of gang members, and provide young people alternative pathways away from recruitment into a gang lifestyle establishing multi agency, dedicated enforcement taskforces to target and reduce the criminal activities of gang members. The New Zealand Gang Strategy ( ) builds on the work already undertaken through the Whole of Government Action Plan on Gangs and provides the basis for an ongoing work programme to reduce gang related harm. The Department of Corrections Gang Strategy ( ) aims to contain the negative influence of gang members within the custodial environment; disrupt the efforts and capabilities of gang members to organise and commit crime from within prisons and in the community; and reduce the reoffending rates of gang members and the harm caused by their criminal behaviour. SUPPORTING ACTIONS UNDERWAY ACROSS THE SOCIAL SECTOR Count Me In Early childhood education participation programme Sector Workforce Engagement programme Skills Hubs National Drug Policy Methamphetamine Action Plan 15

16 OUTCOME Improve justice outcomes for people with alcohol and other drug, and mental health needs 16

17 LEAD AGENCIES Department of Corrections, NZ Police, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health MEASURE Reoffending rate (BPS supporting measure) WHY THIS MATTERS Alcohol and drug abuse are closely related to offending behaviour, and alcohol impairment is a leading cause of serious road traffic injuries and fatalities. Reducing the harm from alcohol, and improving the availability and accessibility of alcohol and other drug treatment services will contribute to reducing serious crime. Alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment can reduce substance use and offending rates. In addition, a high percentage of people who come into contact with the justice sector have been diagnosed with mental illness, but have not accessed a service for it. Prisoner mental illness data found that 62% of prisoners had been diagnosed with a mental illness or substance disorder within the previous 12 months; 46% had not accessed a service for it. ACTIONS OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS The Drug and Alcohol Testing of Community Based Offenders, Bailees and Other Persons Legislation Bill enables Corrections and Police to require community based offenders and bailees with drug and alcohol abstinence conditions to undergo drug and alcohol testing. Additional services that will be trialled to support this including enhanced mental health support, wrap around family support, counsellors and social workers in women s prisons, and supported accommodation. The Mental Health Gap Analysis will analyse current justice sector services delivered to offenders with mental health issues (including AOD addiction) to identify intervention points, barriers to delivering on the current system and opportunities to improve the responses to these offenders. Investment in AOD treatment and support; better mental health for offenders AOD Aftercare workers; community residential Treatment and Intensive Outpatient programmes; Offender Digital Health Services more therapeutic environments, focused on supporting people at risk to make them well enough to leave the unit, stay safe and engage in further treatment. SUPPORTING ACTIONS UNDERWAY ACROSS THE SOCIAL SECTOR The Ministry of Justice is contributing to the development of a cross agency strategic approach to mental health and wellbeing. The current mental health strategy is being updated and broadened beyond its current service focus to set a strategic direction for the government s mental health work programme. It will have a focus on prevention (including suicide prevention) and early intervention. National Drug Policy. Methamphetamine Action Plan. 17

18 OUTCOME Improve justice outcomes for Māori 18

19 LEAD AGENCIES Ministry of Justice, NZ Police, Department of Corrections MEASURES Reduce Māori reoffending by 25% by 2025 (Safer Communities target) WHY THIS MATTERS Relative to their numbers in the general population, Māori are over represented at every stage in the criminal justice system. For example, while Māori are 15% of the New Zealand population, in 2015 Māori in the criminal justice system made up: 42% of all people proceeded against by Police; 38% of all people prosecuted; and 57% of all men starting prison sentences and 65% of all women starting prison sentences. 33% of Māori had been a victim of one or more offence in 2013.This compares to 24% for the New Zealand average. Moreover, these disparities have been growing. Over the last few decades, there has been a general downward trend in crime. However, the rate of improvement for Māori lags behind that for non Māori. ACTIONS OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS The Māori justice outcomes strategy and action plan will align, integrate and initiate work across the justice sector to improve Māori justice outcomes. The Turning of the Tide is a Police strategy to reduce the level of Māori representation in crime and crash statistics. There are 6 specific targets across first time offenders, repeat offenders, repeat victims and fatal and serious crashes. Policing Excellence the Future: Safer Whānau is a Police work programme to drive down the significant harm to families caused through violence and reduce the number of Māori, especially young Māori, entering the criminal justice system. Continuing to support Rangatahi Courts, which operate within the jurisdiction of the Youth Court. These hearings take place on marae rather than in a mainstream Youth Court courtroom. Their effectiveness will be measured in

20 OUTCOME Reduce reoffending 20

21 LEAD AGENCIES Department of Corrections, NZ Police, Ministry of Justice MEASURES Reoffending rate (BPS supporting measure) 25% reduction in reoffending by Māori by 2025 (Safer Communities target) WHY THIS MATTERS Almost 40% of people released from a prison go on to reoffend and are returned to prison within 2 years. This rate is similar to countries we compare ourselves with (eg the United Kingdom and Australia). However, there is more we can do. Reducing reoffending can create lasting change in the lives of the offenders and their families and whānau. As well as better lives, it means safer communities and fewer victims. Breaking the cycle of reoffending will help to reduce the financial and social cost of crime in our society. ACTIONS OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS Prisoner education. At least 1,700 prisoners per year will participate in level 1 and 2 programmes recognised by the Tertiary Education Commission. Access to interventions in prison: Prisoners will be given more access to programmes with proven effectiveness, such as Work and Living Skills programmes. Prisoners will move through a cycle of proven interventions to stack the cumulative benefits of each programme. Better scheduling to increase participation rates. Better community reintegration support will increase people s ability to reintegrate into the community after they have been released from prison or completed a community sentence. Agencies will: deliver an offender employment strategy, to align prisoner employment readiness with the needs of the local employment market develop more effective links with community organisations and government agencies (eg Work and Income) that support people who have offended to reintegrate into the community provide the Out of Gate reintegration support service improve case management to direct people to effective interventions. The Mauri Tu, Mauri Ora programme for high risk offenders engages facility staff in a broader range of activities within the treatment unit to support pro social thinking and behaviour for the participant, in addition to therapy staff. Wrap around services to support ex prisoners to find and sustain employment. The Integrated Safety Response pilot aims to reduce family violence offending. Restorative justice services. Community justice/iwi panels. Therapeutic courts. OTHER BPS RESULT AREAS WILL ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT The justice sector is interested in the contribution Result Area 1: Reducing long term welfare dependency could have in reducing reoffending. 21

22 OUTCOME Prevent serious crime through active engagement with the social sector 22

23 LEAD AGENCIES Ministry of Justice, Department of Corrections, NZ Police, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transport WHY THIS MATTERS Given that offending is highly correlated with social outcomes, the justice sector needs to continue to work closely with the wider social system to reduce serious crime. Welfare Unemployment has been connected to crime, especially among the young it can isolate people from society and cause them to lose self confidence. Welfare is a good intervention point not just for those within the criminal justice system but also their children. 75% of prisoners aged have received a benefit at some point in the last decade and young adult beneficiaries are 1.7 times more likely to have had interaction with the youth justice system. 10% of people who were on a main benefit in 2014 offended during the same year, and 5% of people who were supported by a benefit at birth went on to offend in 2014 (compared to 1.9% of people who were not supported by a benefit at birth). Vulnerable children We know that violence and abuse in families can have damaging cumulative physical and mental health effects that can last for many years after the abuse has ended, and that this has a correlation with crime. We also know that a significant proportion of prisoners have had care and protection issues as young people. 73% of prisoners had been notified to CYF for a care and protection concern before age 15, 29% of prisoners had previously been in CYF custody and 70% of prisoners had been referred to CYF for a youth justice matter. Health Alcohol and drug abuse are closely related to offending behaviour and alcohol impairment is a leading cause of serious road traffic injuries and fatalities. Reducing alcohol related harm and improving the availability and accessibility of alcohol and other drug treatment services will contribute to reducing serious crime. While there is no direct causal link between mental illness and offending, we know that prisoners are 3 times more likely to have a mental illness than the general population. Of people in prison, 47% are drug/alcohol dependent, 36% have a mental health condition and 40% have extensively used methamphetamines. We know there is also a link between behavioural, emotional and development problems in children with offending. Among 7 9 year olds with severe conduct problems, 52% were later arrested or convicted between the age of 18 and 30. Education We know that truancy and being stood down or suspended from school is correlated with crime. Of the 1,500 prisoners born after 1990, 75% were stood down (7% for all people in NZ), 51% had been suspended (5% for all people in NZ) and 67% were recorded as truant (7% for all people in NZ). Percentage of people who offended in 2014 after: having a truancy related intervention in the same year: 14% not having a truancy related intervention in the same year: 2% being stood down more than once in the same year: 26% not being stood down/being stood down once in the same year: 2% Low levels of achievement, poor conduct and behaviour at school are also correlated with crime: 70% of people in prison have difficulty reading or writing. 23

24 SUPPORTING ACTIONS UNDERWAY ACROSS THE JUSTICE AND SOCIAL SECTORS Children s Action Plan Youth Crime Action Plan Place based initiatives Investing in Children Programme (which establishes the new Ministry of Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki) Cross agency mental health and wellbeing strategy and related initiatives Investment Approach to Justice Cross agency governance boards and working groups OTHER BPS RESULT AREAS WILL ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT The following results areas are likely to contribute to reducing serious crime: Result Area 1: Reducing long term welfare dependency Result Area 4: Safer kids Reduce assault and abuse of children Result Area 5: Improve mathematics and literacy skills 24

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