CHANGE THE RECORD

Locking up children who should never have been in prison

Locking up children who should never have been in prison

29 September 2020

A report released by the Sentencing Council of Victoria this morning found that two thirds of children who are denied bail and held in youth detention centres on remand, will never be sentenced to a custodial sentence.  

Australia’s only national Aboriginal-led justice coalition Change the Record has condemned the harsh, punitive bail laws which see children locked up who should never have been put in prison in the first place.  

“Prison should only ever be an option of last resort, and yet what this report today confirms is that children are being thrown into prison cells for relatively minor misbehaviour that would never have seen them sentenced to a custodial sentence.  

“All the medical evidence shows that any time behind bars can cause lifelong damage to a child’s development in these formative years. They are separated from their families, from their education and their community at the time when they need these positive relationships the most.  

“Children are being locked up because of the failures of adults in government institutions. They are being locked up and denied bail because of government failures to provide adequate housing or social support to our mob. Children should not be punished for the poverty, inequality and systemic discrimination that is a result of failed government policy.  

“The Sentencing Council has concluded that reducing the number of children held on remand could improve life outcomes for those children, result in significant cost savings, and make the community safer in the long term.  

“Our children do not belong in prisons. They belong in communities, with family and in school. Government must urgently repeal punitive bail laws, raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to at least 14 years old, and invest in housing and Aboriginal-controlled programs to support our kids to thrive.”  

END OF RELEASE

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For media comment, call Sophie Trevitt, Executive Officer, on 0431 843 095 or email sophie@changetherecord.org.au


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