A special court aiming to break a cycle for young adult offenders, who could be sentenced to a life-time of crime because of their neuro-disabilities will offer a separate sitting for offenders aged 18-25. It's a pilot scheme due to run for a year at Porirua District Court. About 800 people have passed through since it started in July. A paper released earlier this year found dyslexia, acquired brain injuries and foetal alcohol spectrum disorder were over-represented in NZ's justice system, among victims and offenders. Kathryn Ryan speaks with Principal Youth Court Judge John Walker, who has established this separate Young Adult List, which has experts on hand to spot where an offender needs specialist intervention.
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