Additional capacity in youth detention centres

Work has started to create additional capacity at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.

Construction will shortly begin on 12 new beds at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in Townsville to make sure the facility can continue to deliver safe and secure accommodation for young people.

Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women Di Farmer said the new capital works would take the capacity of the Cleveland centre from 96 beds to 108.

“We are also investing in community-based solutions to reduce young people offending and improve community safety,” she said.

“Our focus is on preventing young people ever needing to be placed in custody by reducing offending.”

Earlier this year Ms Farmer announced the movement of 17-year-olds from adult prisons to youth detention centres would be delayed after the number of young people in detention rose beyond previous forecasts.

“We have taken this step to make sure detainees and staff are safe in our detention centres and that we have capacity to deal with occasional surges in the numbers of young people detained.

Ms Farmer said the extra accommodation would provide the necessary beds when courts decided that a young person needed to be in detention.

“The extra beds will assist the centre to maintain a safe environment for staff and young people,” she said.

“Construction will take place between now and February 2019 with minimal disruption to the everyday running of the centre”.

Ms Farmer said the focus of youth detention was on identifying the needs of young people and making sure they have access to interventions going forward, including education, training, health services, substance rehabilitation and mental health services.

“Youth offending is a multi-faceted and complex issue that requires a considered and dedicated approach by many government agencies,” she said.

“We want to get these young people on the right track, with the hope and opportunity of a safe and healthy life.

“That includes getting them back in to education and skills training and connected to their families and communities.”

“We are undertaking significant reform of the Youth Justice system to make sure young people are held accountable for their actions while reducing youth offending and re-offending.”

Work is also underway on 16 beds of accommodation at Brisbane Youth Detention Centre.

These beds will maintain the centre’s capacity and the safety and security of detainees and staff while work on a long-planned major security upgrade is completed.

ENDS

Media Contact:                      Ron Goodman            0427 781 920