MEDIA RELEASE

6th December 2002

The Bracks’ Government breaks it’s pre-election commitment to young offenders

The Government appears to be backing away from it’s pre-election commitment to retain Victoria’s successful juvenile justice system. Victoria's leading policy advocate and peak body for youth affairs understands that the Government is considering transferring the care of young offenders between the ages of 18 and 21 to the adult corrections system.

Janet Jukes, Executive Officer of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) said ‘we have been concerned for some time about the possible dismantling of Victoria’s juvenile justice system and this decision now seems imminent’.

‘Victoria’s juvenile justice system is renowned both nationally and internationally for maintaining Victoria’s low rate of juvenile detention and for the specialist care and protection it provides to vulnerable young people’.

A key element of the success of the juvenile justice system is the ‘dual track’ sentencing option. This provides Judges and Magistrates with the option to sentence 17-21 years olds to detention in juvenile facilities administered by the Department of Human Services. Here, the emphasis is on the rehabilitation of young offenders which includes reconnecting young people to their communities and addressing their mental health, housing, drug and alcohol, and education issues. This system is in contrast to the more punitive adult corrections system which does not provide this level of intensive support both during and after a custodial sentence.

‘Dismantling this system removes the discretion of Judges and Magistrates to make decisions in the best interests of the young person. Young people in Senior Youth Training Centres require specialist responses within a child and adolescent developmental framework. The Office of Corrections has not demonstrated that it provides the necessary resources and care to vulnerable young people’ Ms Jukes said.

‘YACVic strongly opposes any attempt to move juvenile justices resources into the Office for Corrections. We are calling on the Brack’s Government to restate it’s pre-election commitment to maintain the dual track system and the option to sentence 17-21 year olds to the juvenile justice system’.

The Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, is the peak body and leading policy advocate for youth issues in Victoria. We have a membership of around 500 organisations and individuals.

Further media comment
Janet Jukes, Executive Officer 0411 484 428