The commencement of the Victorian Government’s youth justice reforms will see children as young as 14 face life sentences - this is not something to be a celebrated but a sign of systemic policy failure and misplaced priorities.
Jesuit Social Services has worked with children who have contact with the youth justice system for nearly 50 years and we has long urged political leaders to commit to do much more to prevent crime from occurring in the first place and keep young people engaged with education, family and positive role models in the community.
Jesuit Social Services' Chief Operating Officer Michael Livingstone is available for comment.
Contact details:
Media enquiries – Kathryn Kernohan, 0409 901 248 or [email protected]