No Cairns juvenile offenders have been fitted with GPS monitoring devices
A trial fitting GPS trackers to juvenile offenders in Cairns which began midway through 2023 is yet to fit a single young person with the electronic monitoring devices.
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A trial fitting GPS trackers to juvenile offenders in Cairns which began midway through 2023 is yet to fit a single young person with the electronic monitoring devices.
At the time of the trial extension to Cairns, Toowoomba, and Mount Isa in June last year, less than 20 young criminals had been fitted with GPS trackers statewide.
Spruiked as a tough measure to crack down on hardcore recidivist offenders, the GPS monitoring trial shared in a $38.3m funding package under Youth Justice reforms passed by Queensland parliament in 2021.
The Department of Youth Justice has claimed the use of the monitoring technology was an “effective tool” to reduce the likelihood of reoffending while on bail, when used in conjunction with family support, stable accommodation, and tailored case management.
But for a device to be fitted, an offender suitability assessment must completed which is then considered by the court, and offenders applying for bail must also consent to wearing the ankle bracelet.
“To date, no court-ordered suitability assessments have been undertaken in the Cairns (and) Far North trial site,” a Youth Justice spokesman said.
It’s understood device limitations include constant connectivity to a 4 or 5G network and limited battery life means a responsible guardian must ensure the tracker is charged regularly.
However adequate connectivity in suburbs between Palm Cove in the north and Gordonvale in the south means offenders living in these areas can potentially take part in the trial.
Cairns-based former Queensland Police Service deputy commissioner Paul Taylor said in theory the devices could be another tool to keep tabs of alleged offenders while on bail and would free up officers undertaking door knocking bail compliance checks.
“I think it should be something that is in their arsenal and it’s worthwhile having that up your sleeve,” he said.
“I think there needs to be a variety of options to monitor bail compliance and the use of technology should be a consideration.”
Cairns man Chris Wotherspoon living on the southside has first-hand experience of youth crime and was cut off in traffic by a stolen car driving dangerously last year.
He was shocked that no ankle trackers had been fitted within the Far North trial area.
“It does come as a surprise that no kids have trackers, it’s bulls***,” he said.
“If they want to curb out the crime this is where they need to start, if they want things to keep going the way they are going and not do anything the crime is going to get worse and worse.”
The Cairns father-of-five said it’s a miracle no one has been killed on the road by car thieves often driving high-powered off road vehicles with no licence after 804 cars were stolen last year and a mind-boggling 1299 vehicles were ripped off in 2022.
“If (a fatality) happens, are they are going to pull their finger out or will they still let it go?” he said.
“It’s the court system, the police are doing a fantastic job trying to catch them but the courts need to pull their finger out and do a better job.”
The tracking trial “will be further reviewed” in the lead up to the end of the pilot program in April 2025.
“Ultimately, courts make decisions about which measures to apply based on the information before them, while also considering community safety and a young person’s risk of reoffending,” the Youth Justice spokesman said.
“We are continuing to work collaboratively with the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Corrective Services to make sure the trial is as successful as possible.”
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Originally published as No Cairns juvenile offenders have been fitted with GPS monitoring devices
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