Arabic version: مدافعة تدعو إلى بدائل لسجن الشباب المستغَلّين

According to ABC News, Justice Reform Initiative executive director Mindy Sotiri says young people recruited by underworld figures to commit crimes should be treated as exploited children rather than further criminalised. Her comments follow the Minns government’s announcement that some young people convicted of organised crime violence could face adult penalties.

The proposed measures include new aggravated offences for conspiracy and attempted murder carrying a maximum life sentence. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has said some children are contracted through the dark web for small sums of money. Police Minister Yasmin Catley described the recruitment pattern as a “whack-a-mole” model, where vulnerable young people replace those removed from the streets.

Ms Sotiri said adult gang members exploiting children should be considered child abuse. She argued prison can deepen disadvantage and increase the likelihood of reoffending, citing her estimate that 85 per cent of children who go to prison in Australia return within 12 months. She said there were about 208 children in NSW prisons, with the majority not sentenced or found guilty.

Youth Justice NSW executive director Kelly-Anne Stewart said young people involved with the system can face school disengagement, housing instability, disability, mental health concerns, drug and alcohol issues, family dysfunction, poverty and intergenerational trauma. She said Youth Justice supports young people to reach their potential without further offending.

Ms Sotiri pointed to public-health and diversion-focused approaches in Scotland, Spain, Hawaii and New York. Youth Justice NSW said the government committed $146.3 million in its last budget to early-intervention and diversion programs, including Youth on Track and the Safe Aboriginal Youth Program. Ms Catley said police were also working with communities and mentors to help keep young people out of the justice system.