Boot camps kicking goals

Families across Queensland are safer thanks to the Government’s youth boot camp trial, which is achieving outstanding results.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie said the Government was delivering on its strong plan for a brighter future after visiting the North Queensland boot camp at Lincoln Springs, which is two hours’ drive west of Ingham.

“Every young person that walks away from a life of crime means fewer cars stolen, fewer homes broken into and fewer families feeling threatened,” Mr Bleijie said.

“We promised Queenslanders that we would revitalise frontline services and make this state the safest place to raise a family, and the boot camps are working.

“23 young people have attended the Lincoln Springs camp so far and it is changing lives.

“Since the camp opened in December, none of the young people who have been sentenced there by the Court and completed the residential phase have reoffended and some are now in work placement.

“These are kids who were repeat offenders who had been convicted of serious crimes, so this is a fantastic result.

“The camp is a remote and rough cattle station. I witnessed young offenders living life on the land and learning skills that will help them get an education or a job and turn their lives around.”

The results are similar at the Government’s early intervention camps:

• Rockhampton – 25 young people taken part with a 100 per cent non-reoffending rate.
• Fraser/Sunshine Coast – 31 young people taken part with a 90 per cent non-reoffending rate.
• Gold Coast – 35 young people taken part with a 90 per cent non-reoffending rate.

“113 young people have now taken part in the camps, which all teach discipline, respect and life skills,” he said.

“All the camps also include mentoring following their residential phases and many participants have re-engaged in education and are showing significant improvements in their relationships and behaviour with parents and teachers.

“Along with the Government’s strong reforms that make recidivist juvenile offenders more accountable for their actions, the camps are an integral part of the Government’s commitment to revitalising frontline services and stopping the revolving door of reoffending, following years of Labor mismanagement.

“We will soon unveil the next phase in our youth justice overhaul, which will focus on prevention and addressing the cause of repeat offending.

“The Government’s Blueprint for the Future of Youth Justice in Queensland will be a key component of the Government’s youth justice reforms.

“The Blueprint will include long term, evidence-based reform and the close engagement of partner agencies and organisations in the delivery of integrated services to at-risk children.”

[ENDS] 18 June 2014

Media Contact: Ashley McDermid 0412 731 355 or Jaime Wells 0409 624 139