Risk Response Bail to reduce youth reoffending

• The Crisafulli Government is delivering a new intensive bail support program to reduce reoffending and make Queensland safer. 
• Risk Response Bail will help youth and their families understand and comply with their bail conditions.
• The Crisafulli Government is delivering a record investment of more than $101 million over five years for bail support services.
• The Crisafulli Government is also delivering nation-leading Breach Bail, Go to Jail laws, along with more police and early intervention, to turn the tide on Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis and restore safety where you live. 

The Crisafulli Government is delivering more support than ever before for youth on bail across the state, with a new intensive, comprehensive bail support program designed to reduce reoffending and make Queensland safer.  

Under the former Labor Government's weak bail laws and failed intervention programs, more than 60% of youth offenders committed another offence while on bail. 

The new Risk Response Bail program will operate statewide, delivering immediate and targeted support to youth and their families to help them comply with their bail conditions and not reoffend. 

The program targets youth offenders at high risk of breaching their bail conditions, with more intensive support and providers required to make contact within 24 hours following a bail decision.  

Providers for the new Risk Response Bail program have been selected by the Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support and will begin rolling out the new program by the end of the year.  

The Crisafulli Government is providing an additional $24.4 million over three years and $8.3 million ongoing for the Risk Response Bail program, bringing the total investment for bail support services to $101 million over 5 years, which will be the highest amount of funding on record per year. 

This is a 21 per cent increase in funding per year on Labor's spend in bail support programs.   

This funding is in addition to the Crisafulli Government's record $560 million investment in early intervention and rehabilitation programs to restore safety where you live. 

Alongside more bail support, the Crisafulli Government is delivering the toughest bail laws in the nation in Breach Bail, Go to Jail, to ensure there are consequences for actions for serious repeat youth offenders who commit an Adult Crime, Adult Time offence on bail. 

For a decade, the former Labor Government weakened Queensland’s youth crime laws, including making detention a last resort and removing breach of bail as an offence, creating a Youth Crime Crisis that saw victim numbers explode by 193 per cent. 

The Crisafulli Government is committed to making Queensland safer through stronger laws, more police, early intervention and rehabilitation, with Queensland Police data showing a 9.6 per cent drop in victim numbers.    

Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said the new program would help reduce reoffending and make Queensland safer.  

"We’re doing exactly what we said we would do and that is delivering consequences for actions under Adult Crime, Adult Time, alongside new early intervention and rehabilitation programs that break the cycle of crime and make Queensland safer," Minister Gerber said. 

"The new Risk Response Bail program will support youth on bail and their families by providing comprehensive and intensive support to ensure youth understand and comply with their bail conditions and not reoffend. 

"The previous Labor Government bail support programs were fragmented and didn't give youth the comprehensive support needed and the data proves this, with more than 60 per cent of youth reoffending while on bail. 

“After a decade of weak laws that saw victim numbers explode to 193 per cent under the former Labor Government, the Crisafulli Government is getting on with the job of delivering the strong laws and programs needed to restore safety where Queenslanders live.” 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Christian Camuglia – 0477 671 926 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  

The Risk Response Bail program providers are:  

• Brisbane - Anglicare Southern Queensland 

• Moreton Bay - Your Space Australia Incorporated 

• Cairns - Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation 

• Townsville - Shine For Kids 

• Mount Isa - Save The Children Australia 

• Gold Coast - Ted Noffs Foundation Limited 

• Logan - YFS Ltd 

• Cherbourg - South Burnett CTC Inc 

• Ipswich - Inspire Youth and Family Services 

• Toowoomba - Lifeline Darling Downs And South West Queensland Limited 

• Rockhampton - Five Bridges Ltd 

• Hervey Bay - Save The Children Australia 

• Sunshine Coast - Ted Noffs Foundation Limited