New Youth Justice reforms have been adopted to target hard-core young criminals, giving the State’s courts more powers.
Under the reforms, courts can require the fitting of electronic monitoring devices (GPS Trackers) as a condition of bail for recidivist high-risk offenders aged 16 and 17.
There will also be a presumption against bail for youth offenders arrested for committing further serious indictable offences, such as breaking and entering, while on bail and courts will be able to seek assurances from parents and guardians that bail conditions will be complied with before an offender is released
Announcing the reforms, Minister for Police and Corrective Services, Mark Ryan said the Government also intended strengthening existing bail laws to provide further guidance to the courts.
“The Youth Justice Act will be amended to include a reference to the community being protected from recidivist youth offenders in the Charter of Youth Justice Principles,” Mr Ryan said.
“The Government is also enshrining in legislation the principle that offending whilst on bail is an aggravating circumstance when the court is imposing a sentence.”
He said police would be given enhanced powers to use metal detecting wands to target knife crime on the Gold Coast, and anti-hooning laws would be strengthened to hold the registered owner of a vehicle responsible except where the vehicle was stolen or the owner could identify another driver.
“A Parliamentary inquiry will also examine the implementation of remote engine immobilisers,” Mr Ryan said.
