Residential care was regarded as the best option for young offenders and for young people considered to be out of control. Alternative forms of care, such as foster care with non-family members, were reserved for the least difficult children committed to the care of the state.[i] Children and young people were seen as victims of society, or threats to it, or both at once.[ii] Females made up 40% of all committals into state care before 1925.[iii]
Child abuse and neglect were seen as the most significant social issues.[iv]
Footnotes
- [i] go to main content Bronwyn Dalley, Family Matters, Wellington, 1998, p. 3.
- [ii] go to main content Dalley, 1998, p. 5.
- [iii] go to main content Dalley, 1998, p. 26.
- [iv] go to main content Dalley, 1998, p. 4.