A leading criminologist opposes a Government plan to send troubled young people to military-style camps.
Gabrielle Maxwell from Victoria University has told Parliament's Social Services Select Committee there is no evidence that such programmes work.
The select committee is hearing submissions on the Children, Young Persons and Their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders) Amendment Bill.
If passed, it would lower the age to 12 at which children can appear before the Youth Court.
It also includes a proposal to have young offenders sent to military-style camps.
But Dr Maxwell said there is no evidence that either policy would make any difference.
The New Zealand Drug Foundation also told the committee that evidence from around the world does not support sending young people to military style camps.
