News
2 July, 2024
New strategy to reduce youth crime
The Queensland Government has unveiled a four-year strategy to reduce youth offending and enhance community safety.
The Queensland Government has unveiled a four-year strategy to reduce youth offending and enhance community safety.
A Safer Queensland 2024-2028 Youth Justice Strategy focuses on tackling the root causes of crime and aligns with recommendations from recent reports, including the Queensland Audit Office’s findings on serious youth crime.
Key initiatives include expanding intervention programs targeting repeat offenders, such as Multi-agency Collaborative Panels, Intensive Case Management, and Youth Co-Responder Teams. Measures like the Intensive Bail Initiative and electronic monitoring will also ensure serious repeat offenders are held accountable.
Evaluations of Youth Justice programs have shown positive results, with a 31 per cent reduction in youth offenders over the past decade. The number of serious repeat offenders on an average day has also fallen by 14 per cent since October 2023.
Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer said the strategy reinforces the government’s commitment to prevention and early intervention programs that are proven to reduce crime.
The plan is part of the broader Community Safety Plan, Putting Queensland Kids First Plan, and Youth Engagement Package, aiming to support families and prevent vulnerable children from entering the justice system.
