Numbers reveal increasing state ward incarceration rates
In the past three years the number of kids in state care also behind bars has doubled as new figures reveal the criminal activity by children known to the Child Safety Department.
Cairns
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IN THE past three years the number of kids in state care also behind bars has doubled as new figures quantify criminal activity by children known to the Child Safety Department.
Concern that 140 children currently living in 73 homes scattered throughout the suburbs of Cairns and many more in foster care had significantly contributed to the number of kids locked up by the police and the courts has been set straight through the release of data by the Children and Youth Justice Minister.
As at March 31 2022, there were 63 young people aged 10 and over subject to both a Child
Protection Order and a Supervised Youth Justice Order was locked up either in a detention centre or watch house.
Revealed through a question on notice Youth Justice Minister Minister Leanne Linard explained the latest numbers made up less than one per cent of all young people on child protection orders.
However state wards who were also locked up skyrocketed from 30 in 2020 to 63 this year.
Children and Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard said young people’s contact with child protection and then getting in trouble with the law was linked to a less-than-ideal upbringing.
“Where they have experienced abuse, neglect, socio-economic disadvantage, violence and/or trauma,” she said.
“These young people can present with co-occurring challenges such as learning and behaviour problems, mental health and/or drug use issues and their complex needs require recognition and additional supports.”
In efforts to defuse community outrage Ms Linard visited Cairns twice in March and April earlier this year following the death of 14-year-old Bradley Smith in a stolen car on February 14.
The teen’s death combined with skyrocketing car theft rates drove a heightened focus on the residential care home system that in turn allowed hair-raising stories of whistleblowers within the system to be made public.
Opposition police spokesman Dale Last claimed the figures reveal a “failure of our Youth Justice system.”
“As the people of Cairns and other centres throughout the state know, the failure of Labor to take responsibility means our communities see increases in offender numbers and increasing in offending while the young people that need help slip through the cracks,” he said.
“The Labor state government talks a big game on keeping people safe but, in reality, they have failed to keep these young people safe and have failed to keep victims safe from offenders.”
A total funding package of $53m per annum is shared between 11 Cairns residential care home providers.
The Department of Children and Youth Justice claims juvenile arrest data is not available and falls within the portfolio of the Queensland Police Service after a request made was made through the question on notice process.
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Originally published as Numbers reveal increasing state ward incarceration rates
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