Youth crime Qld: More than 50 per cent of offenders come from domestic violence backgrounds

At the age of just 13, Marshall was thrown out by his mother after being abused by both parents. He is one of thousands of Queensland youths in the same horror situation. What’s different, is how his story has played out since.

• Explained: Qld’s youth crime crisis laid bare

Marshall’s childhood was stolen from him by domestic violence.

Growing up, the Queensland boy watched his parents abuse each other, until at just 12 years old he became the abused.

He was forced out of his own house by his mother by 13 and fell into the wrong groups, started using drugs, and was pushed towards crime.

It comes as Queensland Police data reveals more than half of all youth offenders have been exposed to domestic and family violence in their life.

Domestic and Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Command Acting Superintendent Rowena Hardiker says it’s a sad reality she sees all too often.

“When they’re constantly exposed to domestic violence, it’s going to have an impact on them,” Superintendent Hardiker said.

“It makes sense they want to escape the home and don’t wanna be there.”

Marshall, now 17, said he grew up thinking domestic violence was normal.

“I didn’t really get to be a kid as much as I would have liked to,” Marshall, a pseudonym, said. 

“I had to grow up a lot quicker and look after myself.”

Project Booyah police co-ordinator Senior Constable Greg Newman with Marshall.

He was being kicked out of his house at all hours of the night and ended up in parks with homeless people.

He started using drugs heavily by 13 years old, hardly went to school, and slipped towards crime.

When he was referred to Project Booyah, police co-ordinator Senior Constable Greg Newman said Marshall was seriously unwell with an undiagnosed illness which needed immediate treatment.

“When he came to us he was coughing up blood and we insisted on taking him to the doctors … having to navigate overriding the family to get him treatment,” Senior Constable Newman said.

His family never took him to the doctor, instead using it as a way to punish him.

Marshall was finally able to move out of home with the help of Project Booyah and has his sights firmly set on the future. He’s currently studying youth work.

Senior Constable Newman said 90 per cent of serious offenders he dealt with had experienced DV.

“I think it’s one of our greatest challenges, because when life is that extreme in our home, and when you don’t have the normal developmental markers growing up that other kids get, your choices are going to be different.

“You’re going to find yourself in places that aren’t at all stable and impacted by toxic stress.

“Doesn’t take a genius to figure out where it’s gone wrong. At the end of the day, if I was in (Marshall’s) situation, I would be (Marshall).”

Senior Constable Newman said more support was needed for children in primary school to identify domestic violence and give them safe spaces.

Originally published as Youth crime Qld: More than 50 per cent of offenders come from domestic violence backgrounds