The need for prevention and early intervention to address youth crime
As someone who researches, writes, and advocates in this space, I cannot ignore how far these reforms drift from what we know works, what fairness demands, and what Australia has committed to uphold under international law.
Australia is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. That requires more than symbolic compliance; it requires that we treat children as children and consider detention as a last resort, not a default political tool.
Research has consistently found that harsh sentencing laws do not deter youth crime. Instead, they can be counterproductive, often increasing the likelihood of re-offending by exposing young people to the prison system at an early age. It can also affect their connections to education, employment, and community supports.
Media Coverage
Last week I wrote two pieces in response to the Victorian government’s youth justice reforms:
co-authored with Julie Edwards, CEO of Jesuit Social Services
“These regressive reforms fail young people and have disproportionate consequences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children as well as other cultural minorities. “
