Youth Advocacy Centre taking legal action against Queensland government over watch house crisis
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Youth Advocacy Centre taking legal action against Queensland government over watch house crisis

ABC  

A youth advocacy body is preparing to take legal action against the Queensland government for failing to protect young people in the state's watch houses. "When they are in our watch houses they are separated from adult prisoners and they're provided support through the Department of Youth Justice and other not-for-profit organisations," he said. "Politicisation is the greatest impediment to youth justice policy," Commissioner Natalie Lewis from Queensland's Family and Child Commission says. A perfect storm Queensland's youth justice system has been at a dangerous tipping point for years, with political leaders cracking down on youth offending through "tough on crime" approaches.

Crime Youth Children Justice Detention Houses Legal Action Young People House Centre Watch Commissioner System Lewis Queensland Abc Mark Leonardi Watch Houses Youth Crime Youth Justice Queensland Government Ms Hayes Mcdougall Watch House Our Watch Houses Ms Mayes Youth Advocacy Centre Commissioner Lewis  detention  queensland  abc  house  action  children  system  legal  crisis  crime  commissioner  houses  justice  advocacy  centre  watch  youth  taking

History of this topic

Australia: Why children as young as 10 face life sentences in Queensland
3 months ago

Australia: Why children as young as 10 face life sentences in Queensland

Firstpost  

Queensland’s controversial new laws allow children as young as 10 to face the same sentences as adults for serious crimes. Representational Image/iStock Queensland’s controversial new laws, branded “Adult Crime, Adult Time,” have turned heads across Australia and internationally. Maggie Munn, First Nations Justice Director at the Human Rights Law Centre, stated, “Times like this make me wonder how the Premier …

Queensland youth crime victims criticise new government committee
1 year, 6 months ago

Queensland youth crime victims criticise new government committee

ABC  

Two high-profile victims of youth crime have criticised the Queensland government's parliamentary committee examining the issue. Key points: Youth justice reform advocates say government committees are places where ideas "die" They say they need the government to hear them rather than just listen Committee chair Sandy Bolton hopes her appointment takes the politics out of the debate Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk …

Queensland government pledges to set up victims of crime advisory group
1 year, 6 months ago

Queensland government pledges to set up victims of crime advisory group

ABC  

The Queensland government has pledged to set up a victims of crime advisory group but campaigners say the "proof will be in the detail". Police Minister Mark Ryan confirmed the government had agreed to set up an advisory group so victims' voices are heard and "acted on". Asked how it would work, Mr Ryan said the government had discussed "rough …

United Nations Committee Against Torture alerted to Queensland government watch house law changes
1 year, 6 months ago

United Nations Committee Against Torture alerted to Queensland government watch house law changes

ABC  

A national First Nations organisation has alerted the United Nations' anti-torture watchdog to the Queensland government's decision to override its Human Rights Act to allow adult watch houses to be used as youth detention centres. Key points: The law changes allow children to be detained in adult watch houses and prisons for the next three years First Peoples Disability Network …

Queensland victims of crime collective slams 'system abuse' which they say favours young offenders
2 years ago

Queensland victims of crime collective slams 'system abuse' which they say favours young offenders

ABC  

High-profile victims of youth crime in Queensland have formed a collective in an effort to decrease offending and the "injustice" in the system, which they say leaves them feeling "unheard, disregarded and unsupported". Key points: The Victims of Crime collective has formed to give a voice to victims They say they are "largely unheard, disregarded and unsupported" The Palaszczuk government …

Advocates say children are being held in adult watch houses in Queensland for weeks at a time
2 years, 1 month ago

Advocates say children are being held in adult watch houses in Queensland for weeks at a time

ABC  

A juvenile being held in an adult watch house for more than a month, kids sleeping in shower stalls on mats, and children being denied access to fresh air and sunlight are examples of Queensland's youth justice system at crisis point, advocates and lawyers say. Key points: Queensland children are reportedly being held in adult watch houses for weeks at …

Queensland's youth justice review reveals children held in watch houses for longer, possibly pleading guilty to crimes they didn't commit
2 years, 4 months ago

Queensland's youth justice review reveals children held in watch houses for longer, possibly pleading guilty to crimes they didn't commit

ABC  

Children might be pleading guilty to crimes they did not commit "to avoid the impact" of Queensland's tough bail laws, lawyers have warned during a review of last year's youth crime crackdown. Key points: The report found more children are being held on remand for a longer amount of time Changes to bail conditions were not well understood by lawyers …

Queensland's youth justice system 'in crisis' amid human rights breaches, children's commissioner warns
2 years, 4 months ago

Queensland's youth justice system 'in crisis' amid human rights breaches, children's commissioner warns

ABC  

Queensland is systematically breaching human rights by locking up more children in police watch houses, Australia's National Children's Commissioner says. Key points: Cairns is one of several sites being considered for a fourth youth detention centre to be built Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds says Australia's youth justice system is "in a state of crisis" There are about 291 young people …

Young people taking legal action against Queensland government after being held in watch houses
2 years, 6 months ago

Young people taking legal action against Queensland government after being held in watch houses

ABC  

Three young people are taking on the Queensland government with a legal case claiming their human rights were breached when they were locked up in police watch houses. Key points: Queensland's Office of the Public Guardian made multiple complaints last year to police about young people being kept in watch houses Advocates claim the number of children in watch houses …

Queensland passes new youth justice legislation in crime crackdown aimed at 'hardcore' young offenders
3 years, 10 months ago

Queensland passes new youth justice legislation in crime crackdown aimed at 'hardcore' young offenders

ABC  

Queensland's Parliament has passed contentious new youth justice legislation that is set to become law in a bid to "crack down" on recidivist young offenders, despite concerns raised by advocates. Key points: Police Minister Mark Ryan says the bill targets the "10 per cent cohort of hardcore youth offenders" Youth justice advocates have warned the legislation will be ineffective and …

Watch house revelations prompt Queensland youth justice overhaul
5 years, 10 months ago

Watch house revelations prompt Queensland youth justice overhaul

ABC  

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ordered an extraordinary overhaul of youth justice, setting up a new department to tackle the crisis after Four Corners revealed children as young as 10 were being held in maximum security adult watch houses in Queensland. Key points: Youth Justice will be separated from the Child Safety portfolio in Queensland The new department will use existing …

The Watch House Files: Queensland Government knew about child safety concerns
5 years, 10 months ago

The Watch House Files: Queensland Government knew about child safety concerns

ABC  

Senior officials from the Queensland Premier's department were warned multiple times about serious incidents and concerns regarding children being held in maximum-security adult watch houses. Key points: Emails show the Queensland Government was warned about the welfare of children inside adult watch houses The warnings range from fears about child self-harm to concerns over hygiene One young girl had her …

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