Youth Justice in the Regions: Time to Listen, Not Punish
An interim report into regional youth crime has confirmed that tough-on-crime rhetoric and sensationalist media coverage are harming regional communities, creating public anxiety, and worsening outcomes for young people. The report makes clear that the solutions lie in early intervention, community support, and connection to culture and purpose.
Greens MP and Spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson says “The NSW Minns Labor Government must stop its populist law and order agenda and fuelling fear about youth crime in regional communities. If it is serious about dealing with youth crime it must invest in evidence-based, community-led responses that keep young people safe, strong and connected,”
"The findings are clear and urgent. We know what works to keep communities safe - programs that support young people early, connect them to culture and Country, and help them find purpose and opportunity,”
"Instead of listening to communities and experts, the NSW Government continues to lean into fear mongering and introducing draconian criminal laws. This approach is failing. It’s leading to more young people, especially First Nations young people, being locked up in prison, and cut off from the support they need to actually prevent crime. It’s a devastating injustice and a reckless waste of money and it’s got to stop because it’s entrenching crime and not keeping communities safe."
"When young people are held on remand in detention centres hours from their family, community and Country - before they’ve even been convicted - we are causing irreparable harm. This harm is now occurring at unprecedented levels with the number of First Nations youth being held on remand up 22.6%,”
“Just this week, Chief Justice Andrew Bell made a rare public statement about the alarming number of people being held on remand in prisons around NSW. His comments reinforce the importance of an independent court system that properly weighs decisions about bail, and remind us that the presumption of innocence is a ‘fundamental plank in our system of justice’,”
"We need to start treating these young people with care and dignity, not punishment. That means funding the services that are already working on the ground and listening to the voices of local communities, not locking up more kids." Ms Higginson said.