Territory Alliance to overhaul youth justice system to focus on rehab and diversion if elected

THE NT’s youth justice system would undergo a major overhaul under a Territory Alliance government, with the party to prioritise rehabilitation and diversion measures.

Territory Alliance has released its youth justice policy. Picture: Supplied

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THE NT’s youth justice system would undergo a major overhaul under a Territory Alliance government, with the party to prioritise rehabilitation and diversion measures.

Territory Alliance’s youth justice policy would take a “tiered approach” where a child’s first encounter with the law, if the offence was not serious, would lead to diversion tactics designed to remove them from bad influences through areas such as compulsory education and tr­ain­ing, apprentices, work programs or caring for country programs.

The diversionary activity would be the one deemed most suitable for the individual child. Where a child is a repeat offender or has committed a serious crime, the party’s policy is to ensure they go through a new Community Court system quickly.

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills. Picture: Glenn Campbell

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The court would have two options of sentencing: diversion or prison, with both linked to restitution – where an offender makes up for their behaviour by cleaning up or doing community service, or victim-offender conferencing.

The preferred option is diversion, coupled with a “collaborate-enforcement agree­ment” to ensure it is “mean­ingful and cannot be breached without more serious consequences”.

Territory Alliance would also create an independent Community Justice Commission to oversee the functions of the Community Court and other justice-related matters.

The party believes it will be able to fund the changes through the existing youth justice budget, by “refocusing” existing functions.

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills said the approach to youth crime was consistent with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Youth Detention.

“Youth crime continues to grow unabated, and the current practices and policies of the government fail to make any meaningful difference,” he said.

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“While our priority, wherever possible, will be rehabilitation and encouraging youth to make better choices, we will not shy away from swift and impactful justice.

“Offenders must understand there are consequences to their actions if they do not change the destructive pathway they are on.”