The Youth Justice Reform Select Committee has heard from a wide range of experts, practitioners and government officials over the last few weeks. Based on that evidence, we have identified seven priority areas that we want to hear about from regional communities, committee chair and Noosa MP Sandy Bolton said last week.
One of the priority areas is the current operation of the Youth Justice Act 1992 in relation to court decisions, including the effect of sentencing principles, the criteria for serious repeat offender declarations, and penalties for traffic offences.
The committee has also identified the need to develop a long-term strategy for youth justice in Queensland.
The other priority areas to be explored include:
• How to instigate earlier assessment, intervention and prevention strategies that support children and their families to access health, education, housing and other services.
• Reimagining youth justice infrastructure, including best practice standard accommodation for children and young people who are detained, held on remand or transitioning from detention to the community.
• How to improve: (i) children and young people’s engagement with positive programs, particularly for those held on remand or released on bail where engagement may be lower compared to those in detention; and (ii) children and young people’s transition back into the community, including consideration of supported accommodation models.
• How to strengthen public confidence in the youth justice system, including by: (i) examining the impact of social media and traditional news media on youth offending and community perceptions of safety; (ii) improving the way data on youth crime is communicated to the public.
• How to improve victims’ experiences of the youth justice system and ensure they are able to access support services across the state.
The committee will hold regional hearings in Townsville, Cairns, and Mount Isa Monday to Friday, 5-9 February 2024. It will also hold hearings in Toowoomba on 16 February, and Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts between 21 and 23 February 2024.
For more information visit parliament.qld.gov.au/youthjustice.
