Failure to prevent incarceration in Justice System

lead to Increase in Violent Crimes Committed by

Youths

People aged between 10-17 in Victoria are committing violent crimes and reoffending more
than they have in over a decade. According to the Crime Statistics Agency, crimes like
common assault, aggravated burglary and threatening behaviour have all steadily increased
in number and make up one third of all youth crimes in Victoria,

“The current Youth Justice System does not function well” said Senior Forensic Psychologist
Dr Karla Lopez of Victoria Police, who believes that once a young person serves a custodial
sentence, it will do more harm than good, and argues that a youth being detained can
increase future offending. “Alternatives should always be tried before considering custody,”
said Dr Lopez, acknowledging alternatives such as treatment, educational programs and
housing. Lopez also said that these programs need to be appropriately funded and available
to be committed to the young offender for as long as their service is required, which
“seldom happens.” “Having said that, by the time a young person enters custody, it is
usually a sign of many failed interventions in the community” said Dr Lopez. “It usually
signals disengagement from education, conflict at home and possibly homelessness as well
as their own victimisation.” Jenny Martin a Professor of Social Work at Swinburne University
believes that repeat offending depends on “what supports are available when youth leave a
detention centre.” Martin said, “people can be left behind in the justice system” and that
“young people need mentors to guide them.”

Dr Lopez said that the profile of young offenders has increased, with the media having an
adverse impact on offending at times, when young offenders may find it exciting to feature
on television or in the news. Although if a young person does end up in detention, it is
always as a last resort, Dr Lopez said, “for many people, it is not a huge deterrent when they
find their friends inside as well.”

“There are a range of programs available for youth’s in detainment, mostly offending
specific,” said Dr Lopez, however, these seem to be ineffective as the Sentencing Advisory
Council reports that although less than 1% of young people are sentences, there is a 61%
recidivism rate of 6 years, indicating that rehabilitation programs are largely ineffective.

However, Lopez believes that one triumph of the Youth Justice System is the Children’s
Court, which specialises in cases involving young offenders. The Children’s Court can
develop expertise in dealing with cases of youth offending and can do so with appropriate
sensitivity required for those situations, said Lopez.