Businesses urged to help offenders

SECOND CHANCE: Sisters Melissa (left) and Vanessa Thompson, of Envious Beauty in the Star Court Arcade in Lismore, are participating in the Youth Justice Conferencing program.

LISMORE sisters Melissa and Vanessa Thompson didn't give it a moment's thought when they were asked if their business would be willing to participate in a juvenile offender program.

“You have to give people a go,” said Melissa, who helps run Envious Beauty in Lismore for her sister. “If you don't who will? It has to start somewhere, someone has to stand up and say 'I will help to change things instead of leaving it to someone else'.

“They are young kids and if you can help keep them out of jail and get them back on the straight and narrow, that's got to be a good thing.”

Envious Beauty is the latest business to agree to be part of the Youth Justice Conferencing program.

Under the scheme, young offenders sit face-to-face with their victims and, with the assistance of a qualified facilitator, discuss the hurt they have caused and jointly decide on a suitable punishment.

The program's assistant manager, Peter Keil, said the program was available only for those who had admitted their crime.

“It's an enormous carrot. They realise that society does care about their welfare,” he said.

“After a placement they realise that to do the job they like they need to go back to school and study hard.”

Young offenders who participate are about 20 per cent less likely to re-offend and more than 90pc of victims say they are satisfied with the program.

The major hurdle Mr Keil faces is finding more businesses that are willing to take on the young offenders.

Melissa Thompson said she was not worried about who was placed in her business's care.

“The worst thing that could happen is that it doesn't work out and I would know that instinctively in the first couple of days. Then it's up to her (the employee) to be answerable to the department,” she said.