Skip to content Skip to footer

Royal Commission into the child protection and youth detention systems of the Northern Territory

Publication date: 28 July 2016

Jesuit Social Services welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement of the Royal Commission into the child protection and youth detention systems of the Northern Territory, following the ABC’s Four Corners investigation into the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre and its treatment of vulnerable young people.

“We have long advocated for better treatment for young people in the Northern Territory’s youth justice system and we are pleased this national shame has been put under the spotlight this week,” says Jesuit Social Services CEO Julie Edwards.

“The footage of young people being brutalized was horrific to see and we can only hope it leads to significant change and reform within the system.”

Jesuit Social Services is a signatory to the Change the Record coalition and is involved in Making Justice Work, a campaign that lobbies for evidence-based approaches to law and order in the Territory.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are over-represented in our criminal justice system and these figures are even starker when speaking about vulnerable children and young people, particularly in the Northern Territory,” says Ms Edwards.

“There is also a significant number of young people on remand in the Northern Territory.”

Jesuit Social Services calls for a more just and humane approach to youth justice by:

·         Raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 in line with UN recommendations;

·         Ensuring detention is always used as a last resort and increasing diversionary approaches;

·         Committing to funding and supporting Youth Justice Group Conferencing across the Territory, which aims to steer young people away from the criminal justice system and instead allow them to address the factors behind their offending.

“Ultimately, we all want safer communities and all evidence points to the fact that steering young people away from the criminal justice system wherever possible is the most effective way to achieve this.

“We look forward to making a submission to the Royal Commission and await its findings, which we hope will lead to positive, immediate and sustainable change to the Northern Territory youth justice system.”

Media enquiries – Kathryn Kernohan, 0409 901 248 or kathryn.kernohan@jss.org.au

Want to find out more?

Browse some of our other articles and stories

Jesuit Social Services
Media releases
Government backflip on bail reform risks entrenching teens in justice system
The Victorian Government’s backflip on promised bail reform and the announced plan to trial electronic monitoring for young people on bail do not support the evidence of what works in reducing re-offending, and will only further entrench marginalised young people in the criminal justice system.
Jesuit Social Services
Media releases
New extreme heat research shows disadvantaged communities experience climate impacts the worst
New research by ACOSS into the impact of extreme heat is an important addition to the growing body of evidence demonstrating the disproportionate effect extreme climate conditions have on people experiencing disadvantage, we said in our media release.
Jesuit Social Services
Media releases
Early intervention critical in addressing drivers of youth crime
New data published by the Crime Statistics Agency, showing that the number of crimes committed in Victoria by children aged 10 to 17 has increased by more than 30 per cent over the past year, is an important reminder that more intensive intervention services are needed to address the drivers of crime says Jesuit Social Services.
Jesuit Social Services
Media releases
No referendum result a sombre outcome for all
Jesuit Social Services says the No result of yesterday’s Voice to Parliament referendum is a disappointing outcome that hinders progress towards self-determination and reconciliation, and urges continued solidarity with First Nations communities.
Graphic showing wealth divide in Australia
Media releases
New report highlights just how deep Australia’s wealth divide goes
The latest report from ACOSS and the UNSW's Poverty and Inequality Partnership - of which Jesuit Social Services is a member – finds that the gap between those with the most and those with the least in Australia has blown out over the past two decades, highlighting the role of income support payments, housing, taxation and superannuation policy in the growing divide.
Jesuit Social Services
Media releases
Bail reform a welcome step in the right direction
The Victorian Government’s introduction of laws to reform the state’s bail system is a welcome step towards ensuring the criminal justice system keeps people who pose no risk to the community away from the harms of the prison system and supports them to reset their lives in community.
Jesuit Social Services
Media releases
NT’s raising the age to 12 a positive step, but more progress needed
As the Northern Territory prepares to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 years, the Territory Government must now look at the evidence of what works and raise the age to 14, with no exceptions, as soon as possible.