Critics dub Werribee youth detention centre a ‘playground for the violent’
The planned $288 million youth detention centre in Werribee was billed as a juvenile Supermax, but critics have now labelled it a “playground for the violent”, with the proposed plan for the “least restrictive level of security”.
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Juvenile criminals will have the “least restrictive level of security” and be locked up in an environment that is as “non-institutional as possible” at the state’s new youth jail, government papers reveal.
The $288 million youth detention centre in Werribee’s west was billed as a juvenile Supermax but critics have now labelled it a “playground for the violent”.
The state government announced plans last year to build up to 300 beds for remanded and sentenced youths after a spate of costly riots at Parkville and Malmsbury youth justice centres showed they were not fit for purpose.
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Government planning papers for the state-of-the-art facility, with the latest in security technology to keep the community safe, show it will promote prosocial behaviour and rehabilitation in a “contemporary youth justice style model” to address the needs of offenders and help their re-entry to the community.
The paper says it will be: “A humane system of detention by seeking to normalise the lives of young people consistent with community standards”.
The planning paper says the offenders, aged from 10 to 21, will be housed in an “environment that is as normal and non-institutional as possible”.
It says it will “recognise and promote the role of young offenders as future citizens by building on children and young people’s strengths … such that they can discover talents and
enhance and develop their skills”.
The document also states there will be a “graduated restriction of liberty” and an “intensive supervision unit” with a “low stimulus environment” for troublemakers to be housed for short stays.
Former Victoria Police chief commissioner Kel Glare said while the new facility had much to be commended for, rehabilitation was “a lofty goal” and would only happen if offenders sought a better life.
“Experience shows that without strict discipline the centre will quickly degenerate into a playground for the violent,” Mr Glare said.
Youth Justice Minister Ben Carroll said the design and new custodial operating model came after expert recommendations from a review into youth justice.
“The Cherry Creek Youth Justice Centre will be the highest-security youth justice facility that Victoria has ever seen, with a 6m-high wall like those surrounding our adult prisons,” he said.
“We make no apologies for taking the action needed to fix our youth justice system, reduce reoffending and keep the community safe.”
The paper says the new youth jail will be go “beyond a one-size fits all model” and will address the needs of LGBTI young people, cultural differences and those who have intellectual disabilities, and strongly encourage the role of families by providing spaces to keep them connected.
There will also be beds for young inmates who undergo intensive drug and alcohol treatment.
“It will meet the growing demand for custodial beds due to changes relating to bail, standard sentencing, and youth justice-specific reforms,” the paper says.
The facility, which is set to open in early 2021, will include a school to allow inmates to complete their VCE and will run vocational education training.