Remand Options Investigation Tool evaluation

In 2015, an Expert Advisory Panel (EAP) final report reviewing New Zealand's care and protection system - Investing in New Zealand Children and their Families -  noted high levels of young people in remand (on bail or in Police custody) within the youth justice system.

It also included a recommendation to develop a system-wide practice framework to guide remand decision making.

The Remand Options Investigation Tool (ROIT) was developed to support efforts to reduce the number of young people in remand while awaiting a decision on their youth justice cases.

The ROIT, which is currently a paper-based tool, has been trialled in three areas around New Zealand.

It is intended to support youth justice professionals to gather information about young people appearing before the court and to inform remand recommendations to the judge, in cases where Police are opposing bail.

Most stakeholders felt that there was value in the ROIT, based on their experiences during the trial process.

The ROIT was seen as:

• improving information sharing about the young person
• supporting a more systematic and comprehensive framework for more informed remand recommendations
• supporting a more holistic understanding of the young person and focusing on protective factors, not only risk factors
• challenging and improving agency practice.

Stakeholders thought the ROIT could support: 

• increased referrals to appropriate services for young people that may not have otherwise been identified
• more opportunities to dentify more placement options for young people.

A key recommendation of the evaluation report was that Oranga Tamariki should consider implementing a ROIT process when Police oppose bail, and identify what will ensure a strong, sustainable implementation process.