This year The Creative Collide takes on a new format and focus. Philip Patston wants to engage you in a dialogue about how the creative sector could help solve social problems.
He wants to know your ideas, what you might be interested in doing and what you think other people could be doing.
In the first fortnight of each month, Philip will introduce a social issue and ask for your feedback. When he blogs on the fortnight following, he'll summarise and discuss your input and, who knows? He may even proffer a conclusion.
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This time: Youth crime.
In January I blogged about convicted double rapist Maka Renata when he breached his parole conditions. The Herald ran a story outlining Renata's background, including that he "was jailed for seven-and-half years after being convicted of rape committed in June 1999 when he was 14." Renata committed the rape with his foster father.
Renata joins a number of kids, including Bailey Junior Kurariki, who end up being treated as criminals when in fact they are children with troubled backgrounds.
I think it is wrong to put children in jail, no matter the crime. I think we need another system that reparents and "reloves" troubled children who have committed crimes.
I think the sector creative could help design this system.
What do you think? What are your ideas about responding to youth offending? What would you do to design a new system? How could your creative discipline help "turn around" troubled teens' lives?
Respond via Facebook or Twitter (tweet @philippatston and include #tbicollide) or enter a comment below and click ‘Post Comment’.