How dialogue helped Billy reflect on harm caused

16-year-old Billy* did the wrong thing under the influence of drugs and older peers, but took responsibility for his actions through our Youth Justice Group Conferencing program.

Billy is a 16-year-old boy born in the Northern Territory who moved to Darwin several years ago with with his step-uncle. He had recently started to drink and smoke cannabis more frequently, after being suspended from school on a number of occasions. Sometimes when Billy was under the influence, he would hang out with an older group of men, as all of his friends were at school.

One day when Billy had been drinking with the group of men, they came up with the idea to break into a house down the road. As the men were fleeing the house, taking with them a bike, a computer and alcohol, the homeowner Rick came home and caught Billy. Billy assaulted Rick to get free of his grip before running off after the others, but was caught, arrested, and charged with aggravated robbery. As a result, the Darwin Supreme Court made a referral for Billy to participate in a Youth Justice Group Conference.

The conference

Jesuit Social Services contacted Victims of Crime Northern Territory (VOCNT), requesting them to contact Rick to see whether he would be interested in participating in a group conference as part of Billy’s sentence. Rick chose not to attend, as unfortunately it was the third time his house had been broken in to, but he still wanted his voice heard. Instead, VOCNT offered to send a representative on Rick’s behalf, to share how the robbery and assault had affected him. Billy’s lawyer, his Territory Families case worker, his step-uncle and a local community mentor also attended.

Each attendee had an opportunity to speak, sharing their experiences about the offence, including the VOCNT representative, who shared with Billy the distress Rick and his family had suffered, how they feared the harm and injuries Billy could have caused, and how they no longer felt safe in their home. In addition to the physical and emotional harm Rick suffered, the representative mentioned the financial implications caused by having to take time off work due to stress, paying for medical appointments related to his injuries, and the cost of replacing the items stolen. Rick wanted to encourage Billy to think about his actions and reflect on his friendships and what he thinks it means to be a respectful man.

Billy listened closely to the VOCNT representative, answered all of the questions from the Group Conference Convenor, and reflected that he hadn’t realised the extent of the harm he had caused Rick and his entire family.

Billy’s step-uncle and case worker spoke about how he is a shy person, who takes time to trust people and build relationships. Billy’s lawyer also shared the distress and regret Billy had been feeling since the offence, fearing that he would be sent to jail, but that he had taken responsibility and ownership for attending the conference.

After the conference

At the end of the group conference, everyone had agreed Billy would benefit from having a mentor, and meeting some friends his own age who could act as positive role models. Billy was connected with a local community mentoring group, as well as a youth arts program to foster healthy friendships and to act as a therapeutic distraction to help address his drinking habits.

Billy wrote an apology letter to Rick, which the VOCNT representative passed on for him, along with an overview of the group conference and the positive actions Billy had agreed to take in order to avoid getting in to trouble again.

* name changed to protect privacy.