Youth justice report confirms what works

Invest in children, not prisons

Mission Australia has welcomed the recommendations of a Senate report into Australia’s youth justice and incarceration system, saying governments now need to act on the evidence and invest in prevention, early intervention and community-based alternatives to detention.

The parliamentary inquiry found children experiencing disadvantage, disability, trauma and mental health challenges are significantly over-represented in the youth justice system, which costs more than $1.1 billion each year and does nothing to address their underlying needs.

Significantly, the report recognises that incarcerating children can compound trauma and disadvantage and contribute to reoffending, rather than make communities safer. 

Mission Australia Executive - Practice Evidence and Impact, Marion Bennett said: 

Primary school-aged children are still learning right from wrong. Prison does not provide the rehabilitative environment they need. As adults, our responsibility is to help children learn from their mistakes safely so they can lead happy and fulfilling lives in our communities.

Investing in what works  

“The evidence tells us where the real solutions lie; supporting families, providing accessible mental health, disability and alcohol and other drug services and working with schools to identify challenges early and keep children engaged in education,” Ms Bennett said.

“When a child’s contact with the justice system escalates into serious offending, too often it means we have missed earlier opportunities to provide the safety, stability and support they needed to thrive.”  

The report identifies several programs and interventions that support children and young people to avoid interaction with youth justice, including Mission Australia’s residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, Triple Care Farm.

“We know that by investing in services like Triple Care Farm, we can help young people get their lives back on track and create a positive future,” Ms Bennett said.

A coordinated approach is needed  

Mission Australia supports the report’s call for nationally consistent minimum standards for youth justice, greater investment in prevention and diversion, and a coordinated approach involving education, health, disability, social services and community organisations.

The national community services and housing provider also supports raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14 across Australia and ensuring detention is genuinely used only as a last resort.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children and young people impacted most  

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are disproportionately affected by the youth justice system,” Ms Bennett said.

“We need governments to invest in community-led and culturally safe prevention, early intervention and diversion programs targeted at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. This should include greater investment in Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and locally led justice reinvestment approaches that address the underlying drivers of offending.”

Another inquiry is not the answer

Mission Australia is concerned that the Committee has recommended another inquiry into the factors contributing to youth incarceration.

“We do not need another inquiry to tell us what decades of evidence have already established,” Ms Bennett said.

“We know the factors that put children at greater risk of entering the justice system, and we know the interventions that work.

“Government resources would be better directed towards acting on that evidence and investing in children, families and communities now.”

Read Mission Australia's submission