The recent Four Corners story on youth detention in the Northern Territory has sparked interest in and concern about the issue. This media mash-up will review relevant legislation and media articles about youth detention around Australia.

The issue of youth detention involves rule of law issues like equality before the law, checks and balances on the exercise of government power, judicial oversight, access to justice, and human rights concerns.

 

Australia in general

Key statistics:

Youth justice in Australia 2014-15, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Key materials:

An overview of juvenile detention in Australia, Lynn Atkinson

Assorted youth justice publications, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Chapter 6 – Children and young people in juvenile justice and detention centres, Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs, Protecting vulnerable children: A national challenge, 2005 report

Juvenile justice: three young Australian men share their experience of life from the inside, ABC Online

Juvenile detention is another area where Australia is falling behind, The Sydney Morning Herald

 

Australian Capital Territory

Key statistics:

Youth Justice Supervision 2014-15, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Key legislation:

Children and Young People Act 2008

Key materials:

Blueprint for Youth Justice 2012-22, ACT Government

 

New South Wales

Key statistics:

Youth Justice Supervision 2014-15, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Key legislation:

Young Offenders Act 1997

Key materials:

What life’s really like in a juvenile detention centre, News.com.au

Young lives trapped inside the system, The Sydney Morning Herald

Juvenile justice in New South Wales: New directions, Ian Graham

 

Northern Territory

Key statistics:

Youth Justice Supervision 2014-15, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Key legislation:

Youth Justice Act 2005

Key materials:

Review of the Northern Territory Youth Justice System: Report, NT Government, September 2011

Royal commission into NT youth detention to investigate possible human rights breaches, ABC Online

 

Queensland

Key statistics:

Youth Justice Supervision 2014-15, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Key legislation:

Youth Justice Act 1992

Key materials:

Queensland’s youth justice laws a ‘marshmallow’ approach, Opposition says, ABC Online

Youth detention workers claim violence cover-ups in Queensland, ABC Online

Queensland will ‘co-operate fully’ with youth detention Royal Commission if asked: A-G says, Brisbane Times

 

South Australia

Key statistics:

Youth Justice Supervision 2014-15, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Key legislation:

Young Offenders Act 1993

Key materials:

South Australia’s youth justice ‘focussed on rehabilitation’, ABC Online

New laws will enable more home detention of young offenders in South Australia, The Advertiser

Transforming Criminal Justice: Fact Sheet, SA Government

Youth Justice Strategic Policy Paper, SA Government

 

Tasmania

Key statistics:

Youth Justice Supervision 2014-15, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Key legislation:

Youth Justice Act 1997

Key materials:

Tasmania’s Ashley Youth Detention Centre to offer therapeutic rehabilitation for offenders, ABC Online

Alternatives to Secure Youth Detention in Tasmania, Commissioner for Children

Change to youth detention coming after review, The Mercury

 

Victoria

Key statistics:

Youth Justice Supervision 2014-15, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Key legislation:

Children, Youth and Families Act 2005

Key materials:

Victoria youth detention centre serious incidents to be investigated by child safety watchdog, Herald Sun

Youth justice: Getting the early years right, article by Judge Paul Grant, former President of Victorian Children’s Court

 

Western Australia

Key statistics:

Youth Justice Supervision 2014-15, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Key legislation:

Young Offenders Act 1994

Key materials:

Juvenile justice: the Western Australian experience, Hal Jackson

WA’s youth justice – changed for the better?, SBS Online

Detention: WA worst state for jailing indigenous youth, Perth Now