Stronger partnership to rehabilitate young sex offenders
Published Friday, 18 July, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, ATSIP, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
Communities Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr today announced an extra $220,000 in funding to expand the Griffith Youth Forensic Service assessment and treatment program in North Queensland.
The service, currently based at Griffith University in Brisbane, provides intensive treatment to young people found guilty by the courts of sexual offences.
“As well as operating from Brisbane, the new satellite service in Far North Queensland will enable practitioners to work even more closely with local youth and their families in their own communities,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“The Griffith treatment program is about early intervention, with international research and literature indicating appropriate treatment can lead to 90% success rate in preventing young people from re-offending,” she said.
“Recidivism rates are lowest where specialist treatment incorporates all elements in a young person’s life, including working wherever possible with their families.
“The Griffith service uses a range of individualised therapeutic rehabilitation treatments which are matched to meet the individual needs of the young people themselves.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the Griffith Youth Forensic Service also worked with juvenile justice staff, clinicians and government departments who work to reduce the risk of future offending.
The increase in funding will take the Bligh Government’s commitment to the service from $505,368 in 2007-08 up to to $725,368 per annum.
Griffith Youth Forensic Service Manager Sue Rayment welcomed the Department of Communities’ additional funding support.
“This additional funding will help enhance our capacity to meet increasing demand for these services, ensuring the availability of specialist intervention to more young people across Queensland, particularly in North Queensland,” Ms Rayment said.
“Since 2001, we have provided an innovative, field-based intervention service which promotes effective, efficient, equitable and ecologically valid interventions for young people who have committed sexual offences throughout Queensland,” she said.
“Our intervention aims to enhance community safety and assist young people who have committed sexual offences in reducing their risk of sexual recidivism. We also contribute to ongoing efforts to prevent sexual abuse and sexual violence.”
Young people found guilty of sexual offences represent 2% of all young people on supervised youth justice orders.
Media Contact: Minister Nelson-Carr’s office 3235 4280
The service, currently based at Griffith University in Brisbane, provides intensive treatment to young people found guilty by the courts of sexual offences.
“As well as operating from Brisbane, the new satellite service in Far North Queensland will enable practitioners to work even more closely with local youth and their families in their own communities,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“The Griffith treatment program is about early intervention, with international research and literature indicating appropriate treatment can lead to 90% success rate in preventing young people from re-offending,” she said.
“Recidivism rates are lowest where specialist treatment incorporates all elements in a young person’s life, including working wherever possible with their families.
“The Griffith service uses a range of individualised therapeutic rehabilitation treatments which are matched to meet the individual needs of the young people themselves.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the Griffith Youth Forensic Service also worked with juvenile justice staff, clinicians and government departments who work to reduce the risk of future offending.
The increase in funding will take the Bligh Government’s commitment to the service from $505,368 in 2007-08 up to to $725,368 per annum.
Griffith Youth Forensic Service Manager Sue Rayment welcomed the Department of Communities’ additional funding support.
“This additional funding will help enhance our capacity to meet increasing demand for these services, ensuring the availability of specialist intervention to more young people across Queensland, particularly in North Queensland,” Ms Rayment said.
“Since 2001, we have provided an innovative, field-based intervention service which promotes effective, efficient, equitable and ecologically valid interventions for young people who have committed sexual offences throughout Queensland,” she said.
“Our intervention aims to enhance community safety and assist young people who have committed sexual offences in reducing their risk of sexual recidivism. We also contribute to ongoing efforts to prevent sexual abuse and sexual violence.”
Young people found guilty of sexual offences represent 2% of all young people on supervised youth justice orders.
Media Contact: Minister Nelson-Carr’s office 3235 4280