Fast Track: Reoffending analysis
Published: January 30, 2026
Fast Track is a cross-agency service that aims to prevent tamariki and rangatahi from entering into, or escalating through, the youth justice system by addressing underlying issues.
Background
Fast Track is for children and young people who come to the attention of Police and meet specific criteria. It brings together government and non-government agencies to share information, review cases and visit whānau within 24 hours of the alleged offending.
Tamariki aged 10 to 13 years old can be referred to Fast Track when the Police are concerned about their behaviour or welfare. This is due to either serious or persistent offending.
Rangatahi aged between 14 and 17 can be referred to the service if there’s a concern about their circumstances, even if there’s no offending, or where offences are at a lower level.
Participation is voluntary.
Multi-agency teams assess the child or young person and make a plan that usually includes:
- re-engagement with education, whānau and community
- help with finding stable housing and support for all members of the household.
Key findings
This analysis examined reoffending outcomes for 342 children and young people who were referred to Fast Track before 30 June 2024.
The analysis showed that in the 12 months after referral:
- 42% of participants did not reoffend.
- 6 out of 10 participants reduced the seriousness or frequency of their offending.
- Females showed more positive outcomes than males. 53% of female participants did not reoffend, compared to 38% of the males.
- 37% of the participants were responsible for 89% of all offending by the Fast Track cohort. Persistent offenders may require additional support.
The reductions in reoffending observed may not be due solely to Fast Track. An impact evaluation later in 2026 will help us to better understand the impact of the Fast Track service on reoffending.