BEST PRACTICE IN YOUTH RECIDIVIST
OFFENDER PROGRAMS

Sub-program B: Reducing the Volume of Theft

Approach B3: Reducing the Involvement of Young People in Vehicle Theft

Background

Young people are responsible for three out of every four vehicle thefts in Australia. Identifying and addressing the factors that lead young people into offending lifestyles is therefore critical to reducing vehicle crime.

Most of the young people who dabble in vehicle theft are motivated by peer pressure and simply ‘grow out’ of offending or cease offending after they have been apprehended once. A small number however go on to become high-rate recidivist offenders: some have stolen hundreds of cars by the time they reach their mid teens.

Work Program

Review of Street Legal - 2001

Established in 1989, Adelaide’s Street Legal program was developed originally to target young, recidivist car theft offenders. While a range of support and intervention programs are available for young people “at risk”, there is little targeted directly toward the interests or needs of this hard core group of vehicle theft offenders.

Despite operating under uncertain funding arrangements Street Legal has enjoyed considerable success in turning around the lives of its young participants. In 2001, the NMVTRC commissioned a review of the Street Legal program to better understand its successful model of intervention and inform the NMVTRC’s development of its own best practice program that can be used as a guide for others contemplating establishing similar programs.

Development of Best Practice Model - 2002

The NMVTRC’s best practice model and business plan for a young recidivist car theft offenders program was published in 2002. The program was developed to address the issues of young people – including substance abuse, domestic violence, and low literacy and education levels - for whom car theft is an entrenched part of their life. The program draws on the best features of two existing programs, Street Legal and Handbrake Turn, and provides participants with a skill base in mechanics.

The best practice model is being trialled in three Australian states under the name U-Turn. The NMVTRC’s objective in investing in the trials is to demonstrate that such programs work and are worthy of direct investment by governments and others.  Click here for updates on the three programs.

Click here for a copy of the Best Practice Model and Business Plan.

Next Steps

The NMVTRC will monitor the success of U-Turn in Tasmania, Western Australia and Queensland with a view to promoting its integration into mainstream justice responses.