Youth crime has been hitting the headlines, but what does the long-term data show? An analysis of crime data shows offender rates have risen for the first time in 14 years, as Australia wrestles with how to manage children who are both victims and criminals.
The latest national data shows youth offender rates have increased for the first time in more than a decade over the last financial year.
A more detailed breakdown of the Australian Bureau of Statistics data, obtained exclusively by the ABC, reveals recidivism is also increasing, suggesting diversion programs are failing to turn around the behaviour of the small cohort of repeat offenders."What we've got now is small numbers of kids who are becoming entrenched in this behaviour," she said.
"I think politicians can make the mistake of going, well, the number of unique offenders is less than what it was a decade ago, so there's really not a youth crime problem."But a person who's been victim of a crime doesn't care whether or not it's the same person who's broken into their house three times or a different person — they just care that they're being broken into.
"So in that sense, I think our systems are failing, and these kinds of statistics are not surprising.Impact on community "And when they're out on the street they will start drinking and doing marijuana and stealing vehicles and housebreaking. To some, the trend towards a smaller cohort of youth committing more crimes is a symptom of growing economic inequity in Australia.
"It is absolutely heartbreaking to see children who, whilst their numerical age may be older, their intellectual age is around 10 or 12, and they don't understand things like cause and effect."Ms McGowan-Jones, who has Arrente and Warumungu heritage believes the focus on reactive punishment rather than preventative investment is driving recidivism.
The debate goes to the crux of the dilemma over whether to treat child offenders with a welfare or law and order approach.
WA Children's Commissioner Jacqueline Mcgowan Jon Child Offenders Criminologist Terry Goldsworthy Law And Order Child Welfare What Can Be Done About Youth Crime Indigenous Youth Family Violence Philomena Lewis Raising The Age Of Criminal Responsibility
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