‘Adult crime, adult time’: LNP reveals major youth crime policy

LNP leader David Crisafulli announced details of the party’s youth crime policy at its state convention, but it may appeal to vengeful voters, it has experts worried.

Teens who commit major crimes, like murder, serious harm or robbery could be subject to adult detention sentences if the LNP win government in October.

LNP Leader David Crisafulli revealed details of the key youth crime policy at the party’s state convention on Sunday.

He said the ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ policy would restore consequences for actions with youth offenders held accountable for their crimes, with the ability to receive the same sentences as adults committing the same crimes.

They include the offences of murder, manslaughter, wounding, home and business break ins, robbery, car theft and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

It follows an earlier announcement around removing ‘detention as a last resort’ from the sentencing guidelines for magistrates and judges.

“This is the tough on crime response Queenslanders have been pleading for, while Labor has repeatedly refused to listen,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli announced the core youth crime policy that the LNP will take to the state election in October. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

“Adult Crime, Adult Time is not only about keeping dangerous criminals off our streets, it’s also about sending a strong message to deter youth from committing the crime.

“We know when adult sentences kick in, the rate of offenders committing crimes like robbery and breaking into homes with intent dramatically drop-off, which suggests sentences are a major deterrent for crime.

“When someone loses their life to a youth crime, or is seriously wounded, they should be assured these offenders will face the same tough sentences as an adult would.

The announcment comes in the wake of several high profile deaths linked to youth crime, including Robery Brown who died after he was pushed over during a robbery in Toowoomba in February, 2023.

The main offender in this matter was 17 at the time and recieved a seven-year jail sentence but will be eligible for parole in July 2026.

The LNP is hoping crime and public safety will be a key deciding factor in the state election and has rolled out a series of announcements on the issue.

They include reopening the Children’s Court to allow victims, their families and the media access to proceedings, reforming the residential care system, and greater support for victims of crime.

However, the new sentencing policy was met with criticism from some experts.

University of Southern Queensland Criminologist Dr Suzanne Reich slammed the policy as unjust and a waste of money that will only lead to more crime.

“Harsh penalties are reactionary and they don’t address the underlying causes, motivations and contributors of crime,” she said.

UniSQ Criminologist Dr Suzanne Reich questioned the value of the LNP’s Adult Crime Adult Time policy.

Instead, Dr Reich said the justice system needed reform as the current model does not work as more than 50 per cent of people who are incarcerated will reoffend and be sent back to jail.

“Tough on crime policies appeal to the public’s punitive sentiment, but people need to stop and look at it, and ask, ‘is this working and if not why not.’”

“That is only a 50 per cent return on investment for taxpayers, it is an enormous amount of money that goes into our jails.

“What the LNP is suggesting is going to cost more money and have the same impact or worsen the crime problem.”

The LNP policy announcement included $175 million to support young offenders in the 12 months after they are released from detention.

Every plan will be tailored to the young person with intensive supervision to help them with employment, schooling or TAFE, driving lessons, professional mentoring, volunteering and sport.

In 2023, 972 juveniles were sentenced to youth detention and 447 of those were sentenced to more than one term.

“While some may agree that adult sentences for juveniles are a good idea, developmentally juveniles are in a different place,” Dr Reich said.

“To punish a child as an adult would not be just, which is what our system is supposed to be about.

“Many of these juvenile offenders were first victims themselves and never received justice.”

“This policy will perpetuate the cycle of the harm and someone has to stop that harm.”

Dr Reich said the research into recidivism rates shows that longer, tougher penalties, not only fail to reduce crime, they actually make it work.

“We only have to look at those state in the US, states that impose life sentences and even the death penalty to see that these don’t work

“People might see those sentences as proportional – a life for a life – but in all of those states it has had opposite effect on the rate of those serious crimes.

“Harsh penalties create a higher crime rate”

Originally published as ‘Adult crime, adult time’: LNP reveals major youth crime policy