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With youth crime on the rise in Australia, the question is what is the Australian Government doing in response to this ongoing issue?

  • Inattentive 2
  • Jul 17
  • 5 min read

 Australian communities have always faced the issue of crime, whether it be theft, vandalism or violence. Crime around the world has always been present, where some countries face the consequences more than others, such as Brazil, averaging “111 violent deaths per day,” with a total of 40,824 homicides in 2022, according to the Wilson Center. However, one minority that is displaying concerning statistics is youths in Australia, with their crime rates increasing at astonishing speeds.

 

It is important to recognise that these are minors who are breaking the law. How would you feel if your child was in the same classroom as someone capable of committing crimes that cause people pain and suffering. These are children who are presenting behaviours that lead to arrest and potential time in Juvenile detention centres.

 

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Is there a problem with Australia’s education system? Is there a problem with Australia’s criminal justice system? Are parents becoming to slack? Are people forgetting that disciplining children is part of growth and maturing? So many unanswered questions, yet we must investigate what our government is doing at the moment to tackle this problem.

 

A report on Victoria’s “Justice and Community Safety” website claims that “the rate of youth offender incidents in Victoria has fallen almost 35 per cent since the year ending March 2010.” While the rates may have fallen, the issue of youth offenders is still prominent. In the same report, a study conducted on “Children and young people’s involvement in the criminal justice system as a proportion of all children and young people in Victoria aged 10 to 17 years in 2017–18,” reveals that on average 128 children are placed in custody each day.

 

Despite the decrease in the rate of youth offender incidents in Victoria, the state crime statistics revealed that young Victorians committing violent and serious crimes increased. In the 12 months up until June this year, there has been a 26% increase of offenders aged between 14 to 17.

 

Aside from reports revealing such increases, I am sure we can agree that as a wider community, we are witnessing more stories on the news each week of youth crime. Whether it is car theft or stabbings, there is no doubt that minors are committing more severe crimes than people may have witnessed a few decades ago.

 

So why are youths becoming more violent and breaking the law?

 

According to the Australian Institute of Criminology’s report by Kelly Richards, 18/02/2011, “labelling and stigmatisation are widely considered to play a role in the formation of young people's offending trajectories.” As such, there is a key focus on removing such labelling and stigmatisation among youth offenders to minimise the likelihood of repeat offenders.

 

Similarly, other factors to consider is the children’s upbringings, and what influences their unlawful behaviour. The report provided on Victoria’s Justice and Community Safety, reveal that 53% of young offenders in Victoria were victims of abuse, trauma, or neglect as a child, 49% present with mental health issues, and 42% have been witness to family violence, which are all considered some of the many factors that play a role in such conduct.

 

Here are some recent headlines that may shock you:

-       Sunshine Coast teen sentenced to seven years in prison over stabbing death of 16-year-old Balin Stewart(ABC, 1st of September 2023)

-       Teen charged with alleged stabbing murder of 16-year-old at NSW beach (9 News, 14th of August 2023)

-       Teens injured, two on the run, following horror crash with stolen car (News.com.au, 22nd of August 2023)

 

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An analogy drawing upon the influence a community can have in educating young Australians in preventing youth crime. https://peakcare.org.au/youth-justice-crack-down-it-takes-a-village-2/

 

 

Exactly what is the government doing to resolve this issue?

 

The Victorian government have outlined a four-step plan to minimise youth crime from continuing to surge:

 

Step 1: Improving the approach to diversion and early intervention

Step 2: Using tailored rehabilitation efforts that address a child or young person’s assessed risks and needs and support them to reduce offending

Step 3: Enhancing and formalising partnerships between Youth Justice and other services to improve rehabilitation and life outcomes

Step 4: Improving end-to-end career support for the Youth Justice workforce

 

A similar plan is being rolled out in New South Wales, “crime prevention and safety talks at schools, juvenile crime reduction programs, and networking with other agencies.” As is Queensland have also taken on board considerations to fight against youth crime, addressing concerns surrounding attendance at schools, in addition to increases in suspensions and expulsions. The Queensland government emphasize the importance of education and keeping students in school, hence why they argue that “better resourcing of teachers and schools with the programs and supports they need to keep children engaged in schooling will help stop problems before they start.”

 

As such, the rates of youth crime is a serious issue that must be addressed, and further action must take place in order to reduce the likelihood of minors becoming law-breakers. There are current plans that have been enforced around Australia, focussing on keeping children in school, educating students about the law, and providing support for those who have been exposed to environments that may influence poor behaviour, such as domestic violence. However, with increases in stabbings and theft, the government should also invest in cracking down on the sales of potential lethal weapons, in addition to gang related activities.


 

References

Australian Institute of Criminology. (2011, February 18). What makes juvenile offenders different from adult offenders? Difference between juvenile and adult crime offenders. Australian Institute of Criminology. https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi409#:~:text=Labelling%20and%20stigmatisation%20are%20widely



Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria, D. of J. and C. S. (2021). Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2020-2030 - The challenges and the opportunities. Site Name. https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/justice-system/youth-justice/youth-justice-strategic-plan-2020-2030-the-challenges-and-the


PeakCare. (2021, February 10). Youth justice “crack down”: It takes a village. PeakCare. https://peakcare.org.au/youth-justice-crack-down-it-takes-a-village-2/


Rooney, K. (2023, October 5). Victoria changes bail laws but youth crime statistics on the rise. The Age. https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victoria-changes-bail-laws-but-youth-crime-statistics-on-the-rise-20231005-p5ea3t.html



Teen jailed for seven years over stabbing death of 16-year-old Balin Stewart. (2023, September 1). ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-01/teen-sentenced-seven-years-jail-balin-stewart-death-stabbing/102777916


The Brazilian Report. (2023, March 14). Homicides Are Down In Brazil. But It’s Not Time For A Victory Lap | Wilson Center. Www.wilsoncenter.org. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/homicides-are-down-brazil-its-not-time-victory-lap#:~:text=Recent%20data%20shows%20that%20Brazil




Youth crime: Talk tough, call a review – and then do nothing. (2017, January 28). Australian National University. https://law.anu.edu.au/news-and-events/news/youth-crime-talk-tough-call-review-%E2%80%93-and-then-do-nothing

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