Leanne Linard, Minister youth justice, visits Cairns to detail action on region’s youth crime

The key to curbing youth crime will require greater investment in preventive strategies in a bid to break cycles of drug and alcohol use, violence, and disengagement, according to Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard. Read how she plans to tackle the problem.

YOUTH justice Minister Leanne Linard has acknowledged Cairns’ citizens want to see juvenile offenders removed from the streets but said greater investment in preventive strategies is the key to curbing youth crime in the region.

Ms Linard was in the Far North to meet with community organisations to further formulate the government’s response to the escalating rates of youth crime.

It included a meeting with Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation whose focus on outcomes immediately after release from detention Ms Linard said was critical.

“More intensive intervention is the way we want to move,” Ms Linard said.

Queensland Minister for Children and Youth Justice Leanne Linard speaks about the need for a youth detention centre in Far North Queensland. Picture: Brendan Radke

“In the 72 hours after being released from detention, we know we have a very important window to get young people to engage with their family, community, education and employment services to make sure they aren’t falling back into the cycle of offending.

“This is an additional service we’re funding in Cairns. I know these services, these additional investments, are what the people of Cairns want to see this government doing.”

Ms Linard confirmed the state government is looking at “the Cairns region” as the next location for a youth detention centre but said any such approach would be appropriate to the unique needs of the region and wouldn’t be the only solution.

“We need to go through a process … about where an appropriate site may be,” she said.

“The reality is the community expects … (offenders) will be detained and community safety will be the number one priority.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with Deputy Premier Steven Miles at the $373 million Kaban Green Power Hub where she made a surprise announcement about a youth detention centre in FNQ. Picture: supplied

“When we look at interventions, they need to be place based. We need to make sure our services on the ground are people who are connected locally and connected to these families.”

Ms Linard said the government was talking about smaller facilities, and therapeutic, intensive intervention strategies.

“At the same time, you have to invest in services in community that stop that cycle. You need to invest in prevention,” she said.

“It’s absolutely about when a young person starts to disengage, how do we assess that young person and what is going on … and provide the services needed so they don’t come into the system that I oversee at 12, 13 or 14.”

Ms Linard said she understands recent criticism about the appropriateness of detention centres as an intervention.

“It’s an understandable position when people say detention … doesn’t break the cycle; I appreciate that,” she said.

“What we know breaks the cycle is dealing with the very complex issues underlying the offending: whether it is drug and alcohol issues, disengagement or violence in the home.

“If a young person is engaged in education or work, these are the people who are least likely to offend.”

Ms Linard did not provide an official timeline on the potential construction of a detention centre in Cairns.

Her comments come as one Bloomfield River man, who cannot be named due to privacy concerns, has called for a more comprehensive approach to rehabilitation after his son was involved with the youth justice system.

“I’ve got a son that has mental problems and drug problems. He’s done time; we’ve never found anywhere suitable for him. This has been for 26 years,” he said.

“He hasn’t been rehabilitated: he’s deteriorated because of the system. They didn’t treat his drug addiction problem at all.

“He’s in and out of hospital; that’s his life now.

“Certain people have to work in with mental health and police, because a lot of police don’t know how to handle a mentally ill person.”

Originally published as Leanne Linard, Minister youth justice, visits Cairns to detail action on region’s youth crime