Inside Rockhampton youth crime in Childrens Court
Laws opening up the Childrens Court have come into effect after community outrage over youth crime. See inside the courtroom.
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An 18-year-old girl who had been kicked out of home was one of a handful of cases heard in the Childrens Court in Rockhampton today as legislation changes allow journalists greater access to proceedings across Queensland.
The laws were announced amid community outrage over youth crime, with Premier Steven Miles declaring “the public has a right to know what is going on in our court system”.
Magistrate Grace Kahlert said the teenage girl had trouble complying with a six-month conditional release order handed to her for offences of unlawful uses of motor vehicles and entering dwellings because she was homeless at times and lacked support from adults.
“You were moving between Townsville and Rockhampton,” Ms Kahlert said.
Defence lawyer Ashley Reynolds said her client’s mother worked full-time, had other children in her care and had very strict rules.
“She has high expectations for her children,” she said.
Ms Reynolds said her client had a “falling out” with her mother which led to her client being evicted and ultimately becoming “self-sufficient” for the past few months.
She said the pathway for her client to rehabilitation has been long and difficult, with some of the lack of family support caused “by her own personal choices”.
“But she is prepared to make the change,” Ms Reynolds said.
Ms Kahlert extended the conditional release order by one month instead of ordering the now 18-year-old to serve two weeks, which would be in an adult prison rather than a juvenile detention centre because of her age, but warned if the defendant breached it again she might not get another chance.
Meanwhile, another boy pleaded guilty to one count each of attempted enter dwelling with intent to commit, enter dwelling and commit, and possessing a dangerous drug.
The court heard the attempted enter dwelling was for attempting to enter a dwelling on July 20 with the intent to commit an indictable offence and the enter dwelling was when he entered a dwelling on August 4 and stole a laptop and a wallet which contained personal cards.
The boy was found in possession of methamphetamines on August 7.
The court heard he was subject to a detention order at the time of these offences.
Ms Kahlert ordered a presentence report be prepared for sentencing on October 1 and the boy was remanded in detention.
The new laws passed by the Queensland Parliament are intended to make the Childrens Court more open to victims of crime, the family of victims who have died, victims’ representatives and media.
Under the changes, victims of crime or the family of victims who have died cannot be excluded from proceedings unless the court orders otherwise.
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