Electronic monitoring and Intensive Case Management programs major expansion across Queensland

• The Miles Labor Government is delivering on its pledge to ensure serious repeat young offenders are accountable with Electronic Monitoring Devices now being trialled in a further 5 locations
• The Electronic Monitoring devices expansion includes South Brisbane, Ipswich, Fraser Coast, Mackay, and Rockhampton
• The successful Youth Justice Intensive Case Management program also expanded to 5 new locations, after successful results in existing areas

The Miles Labor Government is delivering on its pledge to ensure serious repeat young offenders are accountable with Electronic Monitoring Devices for young offenders now being trialled in South Brisbane, Ipswich, Fraser Coast, Mackay, and Rockhampton.

This increases the number of serious repeat offenders included in the trial as part of amendments to the Youth Justice Act.

Increased funding of $7 million has been allocated to support the expanded use of electronic monitoring of young offenders.

This investment is part of the Miles Labor Government’s $1.28 billion Community Safety Plan to reduce offending and the number of victims of crime.

Additionally, recruitment is underway to expand the successful Youth Justice Intensive Case Management program in Bundaberg, Redlands, Gladstone, the Sunshine Coast and Emerald.

Intensive Case Management is already in place in Rockhampton.

This expansion is supported by a $3.5 million investment.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Youth Justice Di Farmer:

“Community safety is our absolute priority, that’s why we are investing in programs that are proven to increase community safety and reduce youth offending, leading to fewer victims of crime.

“No single program will be the total solution to youth crime. That is why evidence-based programs like this one are needed to complement the Miles Government’s Community Safety Plan and the Putting Queensland Kids First strategy.

“We will continue to be guided by evidence and research and will monitor and track the success of the electronic monitoring device trial through the upcoming independent program evaluation.”

Further information

Electronic monitoring program

The initial two-year trial began in May 2021 in North Brisbane, Moreton, Gold Coast, Logan, and Townsville.

In March 2023 the Strengthening Community Safety Bill 2023 reduced age eligibility from 16 to 15 years and extended the trial to 30 April 2025. Monitoring started in Toowoomba, Cairns, and Mt Isa in June 2023.

An outcome evaluation draft report of the electronic monitoring trial is due December 2024.

The expansion will provide a larger sample size to evaluate the program’s efficacy in improving bail compliance and reducing offending.

Intensive case management

Intensive Case Management is an evidence-based, integrated case management framework developed that works with serious repeat offenders and their families to reduce chronic youth offending behaviour.

The program is one of the most successful programs because it works directly with high and very high-risk young people, and their families, to address the issues that lead to them committing crimes in the first place.

An independent evaluation of the ICM program in 2022 showed the program works reduces reoffending, lowers the proportion of crimes that involve harming another person, and produces a positive cost-benefit to the justice system and community.

ENDS

Media contact – Gary Shipway 0458 090 906