Juvenile Offenders

June 19th, 2008

Gordon Moyes - Question without notice

Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: My question is directed to the Minister for Lands, representing the Minister for Juvenile Justice. Is the Minister aware of research conducted by the University of Sydney on 800 juvenile offenders in custody in New South Wales and those serving on community orders, which found that:

More than 60 per cent had parents or other relatives who had spent time in prison;
90 per cent had histories of incarceration after being charged with assault, robbery, theft, and breaking and entering; almost half had committed a crime to obtain drugs or alcohol;

Most had left school without achieving a minimal educational qualification; and

Most had high rates of intellectual disabilities, learning difficulties and substance abuse?

Will the Minister update the House on effective policies and the range of support strategies that will be established to reduce recidivism and create pro-social alternatives for young offenders from falling into a life of crime?

The Hon. Tony Kelly: I thank Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes for his detailed and very good question. I will undertake to provide him with a detailed response and reveal exactly what we are doing, and plan to do.

Reproduced in the Link-Zone pages with permission