Statutes Amendment (Youth Sentenced as Adults) Bill

“YACSA has responded to youth justice issues since our inception and our position is underpinned by human rights instruments and a focus on prevention and early intervention services and programs, appropriately resourced rehabilitation programs for both supervised and unsupervised sentences and a range of diversionary options to prevent young people coming into contact with the justice system.”

“YACSA is opposed to the amendments set out in this Bill and we urge government to commit to a focus on youth crime reduction through prevention and early intervention programs that strengthen families and communities and the provision of appropriate rehabilitative programs in custodial and non-custodial settings regardless of the gravity of the offence.”

“International human rights instruments state that the arrest, detention, and imprisonment of children and young people should be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time. Quite simply, the best way to deal with crime is to prevent it and as such, we strongly oppose the amendments proposed in this Bill. We urge government to commit instead to a comprehensive investment in a range of diversionary options and rehabilitation programs for both supervised and unsupervised sentences with a focus on addressing the personal, social and systemic drivers of offending.”