LNP announces remote rehab for repeat youth offenders

David Crisafulli has announced repeat young offenders would be sent away to be rehabilitated at two remote facilities in the north and south of the state — though the LNP won’t pay to construct them.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Repeat young offenders would be sent away to “circuit breaker” facilities for three to six months to be rehabilitated under the latest plank of the LNP’s community safety plan.

It will involve setting up two remote facilities in the north and south of the state — though the LNP won’t be paying to construct them.

Instead they will put $80m across four years to fund the operation of the program.

There will be 60-beds spread across the two facilities, where kids will be offered “intensive rehabilitation”.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli is adamant the facilities are not jails, as the kids won’t have individual holding cells.

Opposition Youth Justice spokeswoman Laura Gerber also insisted the LNP’s policy was different to the Katter’s Australian Party relocation sentencing platform.

This despite both policies explicitly calling for youth offenders to be sent to small remote facilities to undergo “intensive rehabilitation”, with kids to be provided formal schooling, and those who commit sex-related crimes, murder or manslaughter to be excluded.

Under the LNP’s policy children would be sentenced to their “circuit breaker” program for three to six months.

“It will allow for another sentencing option for magistrates and judges, and it really is something that has been lacking for a very long time, and it’s something that magistrates have been calling for,” Ms Gerber said.

Originally published as LNP announces remote rehab for repeat youth offenders