Articles for Youth Crime

Australia: Why children as young as 10 face life sentences in Queensland
1 week, 4 days 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 …

Crime Youth Human Rights Children Rights Young Human
In Australia’s outback, youth crime stymies efforts to get tourism on track
1 month, 1 week ago

In Australia’s outback, youth crime stymies efforts to get tourism on track

Al Jazeera  

Tourism operators in the remote Northern Territory say focus on youth crime is scaring away visitors. “We’ve certainly seen the trips from Alice Springs to Uluru have been a little bit softer,” Hall, who operates a fleet of about 30 buses focusing on tours to Uluru, told Al Jazeera. The rise in crime has drawn particular attention to Alice Springs …

Crime Tourism Youth Indigenous Northern Visitors Territory
Youth crime and housing on the agenda as new premier David Crisafulli reveals 100-day plan for Queensland
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Youth crime and housing on the agenda as new premier David Crisafulli reveals 100-day plan for Queensland

ABC  

Moments after being sworn into office, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli assured reporters he was hard at work recalibrating the "machinery of government" so his yet-to-be-named ministry could go to straight work on his 100-day battle plan. The LNP's 100-day plan spells out creating a raft of new agencies — Queensland Government Consulting, Queensland Productivity Commission and the Independent Public Sector …

Crime Health Youth Housing Early Intervention Olympic Plan
How politicians and the media misuse data to push a youth crime crisis narrative
1 month, 4 weeks ago

How politicians and the media misuse data to push a youth crime crisis narrative

ABC  

Australian news outlets and politicians have repeatedly claimed the country is in the grip of the worst youth crime wave in history. Zooming in on short-term trends The Courier Mail has claimed that Queensland's youth crime rates have skyrocketed to crisis levels. University of Queensland associate professor Renee Zahnow said criminologists relied on crime rates, as offence numbers alone were …

Crime Youth Sexual Assault Data Statistics Numbers Young People
Former minister Jann Stuckey says LNP 'adult time for adult crime' policy lacks clear implementation plans
2 months, 1 week ago

Former minister Jann Stuckey says LNP 'adult time for adult crime' policy lacks clear implementation plans

ABC  

A former Newman government minister says the Liberal National Party's key election pitch could raise questions about judicial independence. The LNP has been campaigning on the policy of "adult time for adult crime" for months, arguing that greater sentences of imprisonment for children would act as a deterrent to serious offending. Queensland Law Society president Rebecca Fogerty says there is …

Law Crime Youth Policy Queensland Adult Sentences
Misinformation, disinformation seeping into Queensland election as final weeks of campaign heat up
2 months, 1 week ago

Misinformation, disinformation seeping into Queensland election as final weeks of campaign heat up

ABC  

The Queensland election campaign officially began on October 1 but the fight against misinformation and disinformation began years ago. From false claims that unvaccinated people cannot vote, to rigged voting machines, the ECQ concedes disinformation and misinformation are increasingly "a real issue" in elections across Australia and internationally. Election misinformation: FALSE: You need to prove eligibility to vote early FALSE: …

Labor Misinformation Voting Disinformation Election Campaign Voters Voting Machines
National children's commissioner requests meeting with chief minister before NT government lowers criminal age
2 months, 2 weeks ago

National children's commissioner requests meeting with chief minister before NT government lowers criminal age

ABC  

The national children's commissioner has urged Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro to meet with her before introducing controversial laws to lower the age of criminal responsibility next week. Last year, the Northern Territory became the only Australian jurisdiction where 10 year olds could not be held criminally responsible, after the previous government raised the age of criminal responsibility to …

Youth Children Justice National Criminal Age Chief Minister
Researchers say people with cognitive disabilities are over-represented in the youth justice system
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Researchers say people with cognitive disabilities are over-represented in the youth justice system

ABC  

Back in 2023, Victorian Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes was unequivocal when she was quizzed about the government's decision to press pause on child bail laws until a new youth justice bill was introduced. "They can't read, they can't write, and also, particularly when it comes to young people with fetal alcohol syndrome disorder, their ability to remember information is severely impaired," …

Youth Children Justice Disability Criminal Cognitive Disabilities
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch says young offenders need more support before police become involved
2 months, 3 weeks ago

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch says young offenders need more support before police become involved

ABC  

WA's police commissioner has called for greater supports to help break the cycle of juvenile offending, saying it should not be his officers responding to many incidents of youth crime. "We have seen a significant investment from government, particularly up north, for police to take disadvantaged or at risk children to locations where a responsible adult is, and that's a …

Support Age Young Young People State Need Commissioner
Lee Lovell's wife was murdered by a teenager. He hopes the Queensland election will spark change
3 months ago

Lee Lovell's wife was murdered by a teenager. He hopes the Queensland election will spark change

ABC  

On Boxing Day 2022, Lee Lovell's life changed forever. Lee Lovell says the government's current approach to youth crime is not working. The moment of senseless violence altered the course of the Lovell family's lives and thrust a grieving husband and father into the spotlight as the reluctant face of Queensland's youth crime issue. "A lot of people have been …

Crime Youth Change Boxing Day Emma Lee Queensland
East Kimberley youth diversion trek tackles region's high rates of youth crime, changes one boy's life
4 months ago

East Kimberley youth diversion trek tackles region's high rates of youth crime, changes one boy's life

ABC  

Teenager Camble Sullivan dreams of catching and relocating crocodiles in his hometown of Kununurra, in remote northern Western Australia. "I used to walk around, prowl the streets with all the boys, steal cars, and do bad stuff," Camble said. Trek instills pride Gija man Clifton Morris took part as a mentor and said the expedition got off to a rocky …

Youth Boys Going Walk Kununurra Trek Youth Crime
Alice Springs leaders seek evidence of plans to address underlying causes of crime amid snap curfew
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Alice Springs leaders seek evidence of plans to address underlying causes of crime amid snap curfew

ABC  

Alice Springs community leaders are pushing for more accountability from the government and other organisations tasked with combating the drivers of crime, after a series of violent incidents triggered another curfew. In a statement, federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said the causes of social issues in Alice Springs were "complex and have been developing for years". Calls for …

Alcohol Curfew Young People Abc Alice Springs Youth Crime
Queensland legal experts compare LNP 'adult crime, adult time' policy to failed Newman bikie laws
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Queensland legal experts compare LNP 'adult crime, adult time' policy to failed Newman bikie laws

ABC  

The Queensland opposition's latest announcement to combat youth crime has been panned by legal experts, with one comparing it to Campbell Newman's failed bikie legislation. The LNP launched its "adult crime, adult time" policy yesterday, which would see minors tried as adults for serious crimes, should the party win government in the October state election. 'More violence, more lockdowns' Queensland …

Youth Policy Victim Miles Newman Crisafulli Lnp
LNP promises to amend legislation, sentence young offenders to 'adult time' for serious crimes if elected
5 months, 2 weeks ago

LNP promises to amend legislation, sentence young offenders to 'adult time' for serious crimes if elected

ABC  

Young Queenslanders would be tried as adults for serious crimes if the LNP wins the October state election. Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli announced his Making Our Community Safer plan on Sunday, including an "adult crime, adult time" court sentencing policy. Mr Crisafulli said the policy would apply to offences like murder, manslaughter, serious assault, grievous bodily harm and the …

Youth Policy Detention Young Sentence Queensland Crisafulli
David Crisafulli unveils housing policies, says LNP will not proceed with pumped hydro project if elected
6 months, 1 week ago

David Crisafulli unveils housing policies, says LNP will not proceed with pumped hydro project if elected

ABC  

While Labor's budget was all about cost of living, the LNP's reply is focused on housing. He also confirmed an LNP government would not proceed with the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project, labelling it a "thought bubble". Labor's budget, released on Tuesday, revealed extra concessions on stamp duty would be offered to first home buyers this financial year — including no …

Labor Homes Housing Cent Scheme Queensland Dick
NT government introduces new curfew legislation after Alice Springs youth crime 'circuit-breaker'
7 months, 1 week ago

NT government introduces new curfew legislation after Alice Springs youth crime 'circuit-breaker'

ABC  

In short: NAAJA and the NT children's commissioner have criticised an NT government bill introduced in parliament that aims to streamline the process for imposing curfews. Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the new legislation would provide "more flexibility" to impose curfews in the future, as the government's budget promises big spending on police and new prisons ahead of the NT …

Curfew Legislation Young People Commissioner Bill Alice Naaja
Youth offender rates rise for first time in more than a decade, with recidivism rates also up, data shows
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Youth offender rates rise for first time in more than a decade, with recidivism rates also up, data shows

ABC  

In short: The latest national data shows youth offender rates have increased for the first time in more than a decade over the last financial year. The latest national data shows youth offender rates have increased for the first time in more than a decade over the last financial year. The latest youth crime data shows the number of juvenile …

Crime Youth Children Data Child Young Young People
Queensland Premier Steven Miles unveils community safety plan to crack down on crime
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Queensland Premier Steven Miles unveils community safety plan to crack down on crime

ABC  

In short: Queensland Premier Steven Miles has revealed a community safety plan to tackle crime Queensland Premier Steven Miles has revealed a community safety plan to tackle crime Changes include expanding a trial of police search powers and 900 additional officers What's next? Further law changes to be introduced include: Increasing the penalty for unlawfully possessing a knife in public …

Community Support Justice System Victims Plan Premier Miles
Youth Advocacy Centre taking legal action against Queensland government over watch house crisis
7 months, 3 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 …

Crime Youth Children Justice Detention Houses Legal Action
Disbanded Youth Justice Reform Select Committee hands down interim report today as advocates express 'disappointment'
8 months ago

Disbanded Youth Justice Reform Select Committee hands down interim report today as advocates express 'disappointment'

ABC  

In short: The bipartisan Youth Justice Reform Select Committee was last night disbanded less than a year after it was established. The mother of a 15-year-old boy who was killed by two 14-year-olds, says she's been let down by the process "at every turn", after a bipartisan committee looking into youth crime was disbanded last night. Describing youth crime as …

Justice Victims Reform Young People Report Committee Queensland
Shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says Alice Springs curfew is working but is not the answer to youth crime
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says Alice Springs curfew is working but is not the answer to youth crime

ABC  

In short: Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says curfews are only a short-term solution to youth crime problems in the NT Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says curfews are only a short-term solution to youth crime problems in the NT Extending the current youth curfew in Alice Springs is being considered What's next? Youth curfews could be implemented in other towns in the NT, …

Crime Youth Indigenous Price Indigenous Children Abc Alice
NSW government launches NRL-supported program to address youth crime in Moree
8 months, 3 weeks ago

NSW government launches NRL-supported program to address youth crime in Moree

ABC  

In short: Chris Minns has launched a new initiative designed to tackle youth crime in Moree. Just weeks after new bail laws were passed that make it harder for some young people to get bail, the NSW Premier has flown to a crime-stricken regional town to announce a new program aimed at keeping teenagers on the straight and narrow. Premier …

Crime Youth Bail Young Young People Nsw Program
Top legal, criminal justice minds slam proposed youth bail reforms in letter to NSW Premier Chris Minns
9 months ago

Top legal, criminal justice minds slam proposed youth bail reforms in letter to NSW Premier Chris Minns

ABC  

In short: Some of the country's top legal and criminal justice experts have written to NSW Premier Chris Minns about proposed bail changes. Some of the country's top legal and criminal justice experts have written to NSW Premier Chris Minns about proposed bail changes. Planned legal changes making it harder for some young people to get bail have been slammed …

Youth Children Justice Legal Criminal Justice Bail Changes
Tougher bail laws and a new 'post and boast' social media offence have been announced to crack down on youth crime. How will it work?
9 months, 1 week ago

Tougher bail laws and a new 'post and boast' social media offence have been announced to crack down on youth crime. How will it work?

ABC  

In short: The Minns government has announced new youth crime laws that will make it harder for some young people to get bail. In Moree, a new $8.75 million bail accommodation and support service was also announced, providing police and courts with more options to place a young person on bail with "higher confidence that they will not offend," the …

Crime Social Media Community Youth Support Bail Young