Evaluation of the recommended Youth Peer Panelreform
1. The Youth Peer Panel recommended reform involves a volunteer judge leading a panel discussion between the offender and a panel of young people who all work with the offender to develop an ‘accountability plan’ for their punishment and rehabilitation.
2. The Victorian Government launched the Youth Peer Panel Project in August 2008 – a ‘virtual’ trial of a reform they were considering introducing. A Youth Peer Panel is a peer justice panel for 10-16 year-old offenders. An adult volunteer judge leads a panel discussion between the offender and a panel of young people who all work with the offender to develop an ‘accountability plan’ for their punishment and rehabilitation. The Youth Peer Panel Project was not implemented permanently at the time, but the results were encouraging. However, the Government has never announced why the pilot was not taken up.
3. Responses will vary according to the principle of justice selected.
4. Responses will vary according to the principle of justice selected.
5. The task word ‘critically examine’ requires a balanced response that points out both arguments in favour and concerns in relation to the reform. An overall judgment is also required, judging the relative strengths of the arguments supported with evidence. For example, a student might argue that the recommended Youth Peer Panel reform would achieve the principles of justice in the criminal law system. In this case, ‘critically examining’ the extent to which this recommended reform might increase the achievement of the principles of justice overall in the criminal law system requires students to write about relevant arguments in favour and concerns in relation to the recommended reform.