A new report on the treatment of young people in the ACT justice system has revealed there have been improvements across the board.
The findings of the mid-term report Blueprint for Youth Justice in the ACT 2012–22 has prompted the Minister for Children and Youth, Rachel Stephen-Smith (pictured) to declare “we are on the right track”.
“Since 2011–12, the number of young people apprehended by ACT Policing has decreased by 39 per cent, the number of young people under youth justice supervision has decreased by 32 per cent and the number of nights young people spent in detention has fallen by 53 per cent,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
She said these results meant fewer young people were coming into contact with, or becoming further involved with, the youth justice system.
“By focusing on prevention, early intervention and diversion, we’re seeing evidence that youth crime is being prevented and community safety is improved,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
She said while this represented good progress, the report identified a number of emerging challenges that needed to be addressed.
“These challenges include the need to better support young people with disability and mental health concerns who come into contact with the youth justice system, making sure we turn young lives around at the earliest opportunity and helping young people to successfully transition back into the community,” Ms Stephen Smith said.
She said the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in the youth justice system also needed to be addressed.
“This report is informing the work of the Blueprint Taskforce I established last year,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“The Taskforce comprises key community and Government representatives and consults with the Canberra community before advising the Government on the key priorities for the next five years of the Blueprint.”
