Juvenile justice needs reform

Former Queensland prisons boss Keith Hamburger, who closed two jails and cut the reoffending rate in the state decades ago, has turned his attention to juvenile justice. The subject is of intense interest amid public anger over the stabbing death of Brisbane mother Emma Lovell, 41, during an alleged home invasion on Boxing Day. Two 17-year-old boys have been charged with Ms Lovell’s murder and the attempted murder of her husband at their home at North Lakes, an outer northern suburb of the capital.

As reported last week, Mr Hamburger wants juvenile detention replaced with “healing and rehabilitation” centres. These would be secure but take a more holistic approach than existing custodial sites. Instead of being immediately processed by police, juvenile offenders plus those considered at risk – such as children found unsupervised on the street at night – would be taken to an around-the-clock reception centre where they would be assessed. They could still be charged with a crime and face the Children’s Court. If found guilty, offenders would be sent to a healing-rehab centre. Such facilities would be staffed 24/7 and fenced with an electronic perimeter.

The issue is pertinent nationally. As reported on Monday, the number of juvenile offenders sentenced to serve time in Western Australia’s controversial Banksia Hill detention facility has halved from 130 to 65 since WA Children’s Court president Hylton Quail spoke out 11 months ago. He described some practices within the centre as “unlawful”, and condemned “prolonged, systematic dehumanisation and deprivation” meted out to a 15 year-old boy. The boy was locked alone in a glass-walled observation cell for 79 days and only permitted an hour of exercise on 34 of those days. “When you treat a damaged child like an animal they will ­behave like one, and if you want to make a monster this is how you do it,” Judge Quail said. He also warned the WA government against continuing to house juveniles in the Casuarina adult jail.

He was right. So was Mr Hamburger, who warned more victims of violent crime will die unless juvenile justice is overhauled to avert a “massive ­social disaster”. Young offenders should not be let off scot-free. Inhumane punishments or exposing them to adult prisons are also highly irresponsible. Young offenders, while relatively small in number, have complex problems. Sound programs are needed to help them turn their lives around and learn new skills and better ways. Such interventions take time and money. But lack of reform will hurt not only the offenders, but the community.