State government introduces new youth crime magistrate for repeat offenders

The Allan government has introduced a dedicated magistrate for repeat youth offenders amid a surge in children committing serious crimes across the state.

The state government has introduced a dedicated youth crime magistrate to tackle repeat offenders amid a surge in children committing serious offences.

The Herald Sun can reveal Magistrate Julie O’Donnell will begin her role in the Children’s Court on Monday.

Ms O’Donnell will ensure repeat youth offenders’ cases will be heard quickly with a continuity in who hears them.

Ms O’Donnell, who has worked in the legal system for more than 35 years, has focused on criminal and child protection cases throughout her career.

There has been a surge in children committing serious offences.

She most recently served at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court and previously worked at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court for more than a decade.

Ms O’Donnell was also a senior lawyer at Victorian Legal Aid.

It comes as the number of Children’s Courts operating across Melbourne were slashed by more than half despite youth crime surging to a 14 year high.

In a move that prompted widespread concern among legal and community groups, children’s matters were stopped at Ringwood, Sunshine, Werribee, Heidelberg and Frankston courts last year.

The youth crime magistrate role will ensure repeat youth offenders’ cases will be heard quickly with a continuity in who hears them.

Instead, criminal and intervention order matters were spread across just four specialist courts at Broadmeadows, Dandenong, Melbourne and Moorabbin.

Figures previously released to the Herald Sun revealed more than 100 kids aged between 10 and 17 years old were involved in at least 30 crimes each in 2024.

That number has tripled over the last five years.

There were just 34 youths offending at a minimum of 30 crimes a year in 2019.

The 103 repeat offenders recorded last year carried out at least 3090 crimes in 2024 alone, an average of eight offences per day.

Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said youth offenders would be held accountable.

“Ms O’Donnell will be a great asset to the Children’s Court,” she said.

“Her wealth of experience and expertise will ensure consistency in hearings and more accountability for repeat youth offenders.

“We know there is a group of repeat offenders driving the rise in serious crimes – that’s why we’re taking action to hold them to account while offering support to help young people turn their lives around.”

Youth Justice minister Enver Erdogan said: “This is another important step in delivering a justice system that protects the community and rehabilitates young people”.

“We want to help victims get closure by holding young people to account and helping those who may be heading down a wrong path to realise the effects of their actions.”