Results are in on youth crime

The results are in on what the community thinks about the Newman Government’s proposed youth justice reforms, with thousands of people responding to the Safer Streets Crime Action Plan survey.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie said the responses to most of the proposed reforms were emphatic.

“More than three quarters of the 4,184 respondents were either victims or had a family member who was a victim of crime,” Mr Bleijie said.

“65.9 per cent of respondents believed that giving courts access to an adult offender’s juvenile criminal history would be ‘quite effective’ or ‘very effective’ and 66.3 per cent agreed with making it an offence for a child to breach his or her bail conditions.

“Half the respondents also strongly agreed with naming and shaming young offenders.

“This proves what the Newman Government has suspected all along – that the community is sick and tired of the arrogant, repeat offenders who are a product of the former Labor Government’s slap on the wrist approach.

“We make no apologies for being tough on crime but we are also committed to giving young offenders a chance to turn their lives around.

“More than half of respondents (56 per cent) strongly support our boot camp trials, and more than 70 per cent approved of early intervention and employment programs.”

Other concepts and proposed reforms respondents believed were ‘quite effective’ or ‘very effective’ included:

• 76.8 per cent - better support for children experiencing violence and neglect
• 58.4 per cent - automatically transferring offenders to adult prisons when they turn 17
• 51.4 per cent - prolific offender programs

“The current system simply isn’t working so we need to try new things, and we put the call out to Queenslanders because it’s important people have a say on these reforms,” Mr Bleijie said.

“Their responses will provide a framework for our youth justice blueprint and I thank all the respondents for taking the time to complete the survey.”

Results of the survey can be accessed at www.justice.qld.gov.au/corporate/community-consultation/community-consultation-activities/past-activities/safer-streets-crime-action-plan-youth-justice

[ENDS] 17 July 2013

Media Contact: Ashley McDermid 0412 731 355 or Katherine Hornbuckle 0402 862 351