Queensland Abolishes ‘Imprisonment as a Last Resort’ Policy for Juvenile Offenders
Queensland’s recent legislative changes will go against the UN protocol by allowing the incarceration of child criminals.
The previous idea of detention as a last resort for minors has been abandoned by Queensland Labor with the introduction of a new community safety plan.
Contrary to the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty, which emphasizes that “imprisonment should be used as a last resort,” the amended Queensland Charter of Youth Justice Principles now states:
“A child should be detained in custody, where necessary, to ensure community safety, when other preventive measures are not sufficient, and for no longer than needed for the purpose of detention.”
This new plan also expands Jack’s Law powers, enabling police to conduct random searches for weapons and imposing stricter penalties for carrying weapons in public.
Premier Steven Miles stated that Labor’s plan is evidence-based and will aid in reducing crime.
The legislation, part of the $1.28 billion Community Safety Plan, also includes measures such as enhanced electronic monitoring of young offenders, cracking down on social media activities related to crime, and implementing a firearms prohibition order scheme.
However, the Liberal National Party (LNP) Opposition Leader David Crisafulli and the Human Rights Law Centre have voiced concerns about the impact of these changes, arguing that detention should be a last resort for children to ensure their well-being and safety.
