BLOG: 12 positive steps in youth justice in 2022

While our youth justice systems continue to experience significant challenges, several key steps made this year give us hope compassionate and effective change lies ahead.

In January, Queensland decided not to open a new $16 million youth prison after community backlash, and the Strong Grandmothers Group in the Northern Territory told the ABC how they’re reducing anti-social behaviour on the streets of Tennant Creek by supporting kids to get fed and back home, instead of running into trouble with the law.

In February, media coverage shone a light on the troubling conditions inside youth detention facilities across the country, providing an opportunity to share our ideas about the community-based and rehabilitative alternatives than can support kids in trouble to change their behaviour, without resorting to imprisonment.

Victoria had a busy start to autumn – releasing in late February its Aboriginal justice strategy, Wirkara Kulpa, which centres First Nations young people’s wellbeing in its aim to reduce their overrepresentation in the justice system. And in March, the state’s parliament released the report of its Inquiry into Victoria’s Criminal Justice System, which recommended – among other evidence-based reforms – raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10.

In April, a damning report by Western Australia’s prison inspector slammed youth detention facility Banksia Hill as “inhumane” – which kicked off months of intense media coverage and advocacy that has since seen harmful restraint tactics banned and a youth justice crisis summit held.

The May Federal Election presented a new opportunity for the Federal Government to show leadership and renew the united process across all states and territories to raise the age of criminal responsibility.

And in June, Tasmania announced it will raise the minimum age of detention from 10 to 14 – a positive first step that keeps very young children out of prison, and an opportunity for all states and territories to focus on raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14.

In July, youth justice featured on the ABC’s You Can’t Ask That program, providing a thoughtful and compassionate platform to cut through fear and stereotypes and show the true circumstances behind youth offending.

August marked World Youth Day, and a national opportunity to hand over our 200,000+ signature petition to political leaders, demonstrating widespread support for raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 in every state and territory.

The ACT led the way in September, publishing a roadmap showing the clear and achievable steps towards raising the age first to 12 and then 14 two years later. And after five years of powerful community advocacy, South Australia became the first state to criminalise the use of spit hoods.

In another first, the Northern Territory became the first jurisdiction to officially raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12 in September – an important first step towards the goal of 14.

October saw the launch of an interactive map showcasing evidence-based alternatives to imprisonment working across Australia, and continuing media pressure on our failing youth justice systems.

By November, those systems were in the primetime spotlight: the ABC’s Four Corners published its damming report on failing youth justice system – which resulted in calls for a royal commission into Western Australia’s youth justice system, like the 2017 inquiry into the Northern Territory that first sparked reforms, including its increased age of criminal responsibility – and spotlighted successful international alternatives to prison.

And now, in December, attorneys-general have just released the expert report that recommends raising the age to 14 nation-wide – a reform supported by a majority of Australians – and pressure is mounting on leaders in every jurisdiction to enact urgent reform our youth justice systems.

Thank you for being part of Worth A Second Chance in 2022. We look forward with hope and solidarity to growing our collective efforts towards fair, compassionate and effective youth justice systems in 2023.