Media releases Archives - Page 25 of 31

Supreme Court win a victory for human rights
- 11 May 2017
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the Supreme Court verdict handed down today that the detention of children and young people in the maximum security adult Barwon Prison is unlawful. “We are pleased that the Supreme Court has reiterated what we and others have said for months: that there is no place for children in adult prisons,”…
Vulnerable groups recognised in bail response
- 8 May 2017
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the Victorian Government’s $25.2 million commitment to continue and expand the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP) and the CISP Remand Outreach Pilot to monitor and supervise people on bail and remand, and target the underlying causes of offending. The commitment is in response to Supreme Court Justice Paul Coghlan’s review of…
Victorian budget – A lost opportunity to invest in crime reduction
- 3 May 2017
With the Victorian budget in a strong position, Jesuit Social Services has welcomed investment in family violence, social housing and mental health initiatives. Jesuit Social Services CEO Julie Edwards said the unprecedented commitment to reducing family violence was a watershed moment and welcomed the full package of announcements. However, Ms Edwards said that at a time of such significant spending on serious…
Education funding gives children chance to flourish
- 28 April 2017
An additional $1 million towards repairs and maintenance at remote homeland learning centres, announced as part of the Northern Territory budget, will provide young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have greater opportunities to flourish. Jared Sharp, Jesuit Social Services’ General Manager in the Northern Territory, says the funds will provide a foundation for success…
Youth remand court will ease pressure on youth detention system
- 24 April 2017
A new youth remand court, which will ‘fast-track’ the cases of many children currently held in detention unsentenced, will ease the pressure on Victoria’s youth detention system according to Jesuit Social Services. “The pressure on Victoria’s youth detention system has been clear in recent months. We’ve seen a series of incidents, including one in November…
Investments for young people will support meaningful change
- 21 April 2017
The Northern Territory Government’s $1.75 million investment into after-hours youth services in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, announced today, will help to create cohesive and ultimately safe communities, says Jesuit Social Services. “The best way to support kids to grow up to become productive adults is to connect them with positive activities and opportunities,” says…
Mental health funding welcomed
- 18 April 2017
An expansion of mental health support for people in, or at risk of entering, the criminal justice system will ultimately help to create safer communities, says Jesuit Social Services. The Victorian Government has announced its 2017/18 Budget will provide $43.9 million in capital funding to expand Thomas Embling Hospital, and $28.6 million over four years…
Territory can’t revert to punitive approach in dealing with vulnerable young people
- 12 April 2017
Jesuit Social Services says the majority of young people in youth detention should not be punished with more severe security restrictions for the actions of a few, following an incident in which two boys escaped from Don Dale Youth Detention Centre. “Nobody wants to read news of two young people on remand escaping a detention…
Mandatory sentences won’t improve community safety
- 11 April 2017
The introduction of mandatory sentences for a range of offences, proposed by Victorian Opposition leader Mathew Guy, will not improve community safety according to Jesuit Social Services. Under the proposed legislation, to be introduced if Opposition leader Mathew Guy is elected in November 2018, mandatory prison sentences would be applicable to 11 crimes where the…
Royal Commission interim report reveals failings of NT’s youth justice system
- 3 April 2017
The interim report of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory has shown how the Territory’s youth detention system has further entrenched the issues behind youth crime, says Jesuit Social Services. The report tabled last week reveals the failings of the system, in particular Don Dale, after an…