Youths charged with serious crimes to wear monitoring bracelets under Victorian trial

The Victorian government is launching a trial of electronic monitoring bracelets for young people charged with serious offences. The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service opposed the trial and said it meant young people would be "deprived of their liberty" without being found guilty of a crime. "While shackling children with electronic monitoring devices might score cheap political points, they don't prevent crime," Human Rights Law Centre lawyer Monique Hurley said. "We're doing the work to get the alternative service model correct, but right now we're focused on a youth justice bill which is being introduced into the parliament mid-year." The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service said removing the onus provision "would have helped get many children out of a life-long entanglement in criminal legal system, enabling them to get the supports that all children need to give them a chance to build a better life".