Martial arts and yoga: Details revealed of life inside youth military boot camp
Tuesday, 3 September 2024
Youth offenders sent to military-style academies will have to journal, take walks on the beach, engage with a therapist and learn martial arts, as part of their stay.
Documents released to Stuff shine a light into the day-to-day life of the young people involved in the Government’s pilot of the academies.
No females were allowed to be part of the programme, due to extra staffing needed for mixed gender cohorts.
Youth offenders will visit the beach, write journals, talk about life priorities - and learn martial arts - as part of the Government’s military-style boot camp plan, new documents reveal.
A draft design for the pilot of the military-style academy, released to Stuff by Oranga Tamariki under the Official Information Act, shines a light into how some of New Zealand’s youngest criminal offenders will be treated on their 10-week stay.
The new programme is based out of Oranga Tamariki’s Palmerston North youth justice facility. The children’s ministry installed new outdoor gym equipment and an assault course at the facility.
New details show the pilot is broken up into three phases: Imposed discipline, development of self and team, and then, transition.
Physical activities
Daily physical activities inside the facility draw much of their inspiration from the ‘military’ aspect of the programme - with marching and drills first on the list.
Sports and team building will also be a large part of the programme, which includes martial arts and yoga.
High ropes courses, camping, visiting the beach and doing neighbourhood walks will also be on the agenda.
Much of the physical activity doesn’t start until “stage 2” of the pilot programme but holistic well-being, such as sleep hygiene and nutrition, commence from the get-go.
Part of stage 2 also includes a “milestone resilience activity’, with the example listed as ”longest day“.
The end of each stage is marked by a celebration.
Who, and who can’t, be chosen
Only a very select group of youth offenders were able to take part in the pilot military-style academy programme, documents show.
To initially be eligible, rangatahi had to be sentenced through the Youth Court to a required stay at an OT Youth Justice residence.
A sub-set of those individuals were able to be chosen, based on the nature of their offending and their ability to participate in the academy.
OT avoided grouping students who had been co-offenders, those with gang associations, people with physical disabilities, those with complex mental conditions and any females - due to staffing requirements needed for mixed gender cohorts.
Those who fit into the program were “likely to have a history of violence and aggression”, the plan stated.
They were also likely to have had prior trauma, complex needs (such as mental health disorders or drug and alcohol abuse) and possibly be neurodiverse.
Anyone sentenced, or likely to be sentenced, to imprisonment was automatically ruled out.
Cultural activities and life skills
Upon acceptance and entry to the facility, uniforms, a journal and toiletries are issued to the young person.
They’re given a mentor and “anchor relationships”, and have interviews with the academy leaders.
“Individualised connection commences”, the plan states.
The first activity listed for the young offenders is daily journalling, followed by therapeutic and transition support.
After a powhiri and introduction to academy staff, the core syllabus, the details of which are redacted from the plan given to Stuff, begins.
Cultural activity suggestions listed for those at the academy include visiting a marae or church, going to the museum or learning mau rākau, a Māori martial art form.
Life skills were also part of the program, such as CV writing, interviewing skills, cooking, dressing to a standard and growing food.
Near the end of stage 2, there would also be a careers day.
Whānau support days are woven throughout the 10 week pilot.
Therapeutic and educational training
Throughout the academy counselling, drug and alcohol treatment and relapse prevention training would be provided.
The young offenders would be taught “emotional regulation” and coping strategies, the plan shows.
During the pilot there would be three full-day workshops that aim to teach the youth about having a meaning in life, priorities and “I AM (so) worth it journal”, amongst other things.
Each participant would have weekly 1:1 sessions with a case leader or psychologist, as well as weekly engagement with a mentor.
“Identify strengths, hopes, and aspirations, and be realistic with the current desires to offend”, the plan states.
The kids would also be given a standard education, such as NCEA level 2, and vocational training.
What happens when they leave - and if they re-offend?
A graduation day is held for the students once the course is complete - which would include a march, an award ceremony and a dinner.
Evaluations of the student and their whānau would be delivered, before they are returned to a “safe, stable and loving environment.”
The academy programme doesn’t stop after graduation, as much of stage 3 happens after the young people leave.
Ongoing connection with mentors and therapeutic support is offered, as transition activities, such as education and employment, begin.
The cohort who graduated become part of an ‘alumni network’ who stay connected through scheduled events.
Details on what happens to those who re-offend are scarce inside the plan, but fall under a “individually tailored support plan”.
“Acknowledging that many of the academy outcomes will not be realised for multiple years”, the plan said.
Listed in the plan is what physical signs they may see if their work is successful, such as: smiling/laughing, eye contact, displaying hope and positive body language.
The measures for success from the transition phase would take on-board employer feedback, police interaction reports and community partner feedback.