Parents of teen offenders demand change to state’s justice system

Four mothers of teenagers caught up in violent and dangerous youth offending across Melbourne’s suburbs have opened up about their experience — and demanded change to the state’s criminal justice system.

Bonnie’s teenage son left the house one night and was introduced to the “wrong crowd” – it was the beginning of his death-defying stint as a hardcore teenage criminal.

The young mother’s 17-year-old son racked up more than 140 criminal charges and was arrested almost a dozen times in just six months.

She is one of dozens of Victorian parents who are almost helpless in dealing with their teenagers’ alleged crime sprees — leaving them ashamed and embarrassed.

The Sunday Herald Sun spoke to four mothers of teenagers who are currently or who were mixed up in serious youth offending across the suburbs.

They detailed their harrowing experiences with their teenage sons and daughters as they demand change to the state’s criminal justice system.

Melbourne mother Bonnie — not her real name — hopes her son’s offending is drawing to a close after a wild six-month crime spree.

He now has a job and hopes to put his criminal past behind him.

Bonnie hopes her teenager’s offending is finally drawing to a close.

Bonnie said her son’s entry into the criminal world happened quickly.

One night he left their suburban home to meet a friend, who then introduced him to a group of hardened teenage crooks.

“He went out with one mate who introduced him to obviously the wrong crowd. It just spiralled from there,” she told the Herald Sun.

“One thing led to another, they were in a stolen car and caught that night.

“It started with a mate who stole his parent’s car (which turned into) targeting gyms (for keys), aggravated burglaries, carjackings.

“He did it all.”

Bonnie said her son’s popularity quickly rose among a growing list of young associates who began admiring his skills in handling stolen cars.

He has been arrested about 10 times, slapped with more than 140 charges and spent a week inside the Melbourne Youth Justice Centre at Parkville.

Bonnie said her son, who continually stole luxury vehicles, told her “they’re rich enough, they can afford it” when asked why he targeted the Bayside area.

“It went from him talking to about three or four other boys, to a list of about 60 that he’s in touch with, from all over Melbourne,” she added.

“He was known as the best driver within his group. So whenever they were in police chases, they would ring him and pick him up to get them out of it.”

Bonnie says her son, who continually stole luxury vehicles, says ‘they’re rich enough, they can afford it’.

When asked how the state could address the ongoing youth crime crisis, Bonnie said mandatory programs needed to be put in place as a step between youth detention and being set free.

“He’s been in (juvenile detention) but he came out even wiser, because he spent time with more criminals who’d given their tips (for offending), told him what he should be doing differently,” she added.

“It’s really tough.”

Another mother, Sarah, which is also not her real name, has “lost count” of the number of charges her 17-year-old son has racked up over the past two years.

Before Covid, Sarah’s son was a dedicated footballer, basketballer and cricketer who was occupied by school and sport all year round.

Sarah said her son, who has since stopped associating with youth criminals, turned to his wild offending “immediately” after the Covid lockdowns ended and he could leave the house.

“There was a period of probably five weeks where we lost control of him in a big way,” she said.

“At the end of the lockdowns, all of a sudden he had 1000 friends and was going here, there and everywhere.

“Immediately, I felt like I was losing control of him. He went from zero per cent to 150 per cent. They were going nuts. We were losing control.”

Sarah says her son turned to his wild offending immediately after the Covid lockdowns.

She said her son committed one alleged aggravated burglary, a handful of car thefts and was even involved in affrays.

Sarah agreed that a solid step between freedom and youth detention could hold the answers to the state’s youth crime crisis.

“I don’t have the answers, I’m not an expert. I’m just a mum who’s been through this,” she said.

“We need to stamp it out because no one is safe right now. The kids aren’t safe right now and the community is not safe.

“Maybe we need a step between bail and juvenile prison. Send them to bootcamp, but work with the parents on those solutions.”

Lisa’s 15-year-old son has already made a name for himself as one of Melbourne’s worst youth offenders.

He has been locked up in Parkville for months.

Lisa said her son, when released from Parkville after each stint, goes on a “hunt” for methamphetamine.

Melbourne Youth Justice Centre in Parkville.

She said his criminal behaviour surged after the harsh Covid lockdowns as he didn’t want to be told where to be every moment of the day.

“I feel like I blame Covid, we all blame Covid, but it was 100 per cent triggered off by those harsh lockdowns and those harsh rules,” she said.

“I was visiting (Parkville) one day and I told him he was going to kill someone … his words out of his mouth were: ‘Mum, don’t worry about it. I’m invincible’.

“Last week he told me how excited he was that he learnt how to gamble and play poker.

“They bail them for failure, there’s nothing set up on the outside. There’s nothing there to try and make a difference.”

The mother of a young teenage girl, who came dangerously close to becoming entrenched in crime circles in recent years, said it was extremely difficult for parents.

She hit back at those asking “where are the parents?” as there was not a simple solution to keeping her daughter on the right track.

She said her daughter began committing several petty crimes and witnessed a violent bashing before leaving that group of friends for a youth group.

“I don’t know what I did to help turn it around, but she saw one side and I told her I was here, no matter what, and I think that’s they key,” she said.

“They’re not bad kids, they’re really not. They’re just hurting.”

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