Every young person in Victoria deserves the chance to turn their life around. Mandatory minimum sentencing makes that harder by tying judges’ hands before they’ve heard a word of evidence. Youthlaw urges the Victorian Government to wait for the findings of the Sentencing Review, and not rush sentencing reforms in response to Victoria Police Chief Commissioner’s recent public statements.
Quotes attributable to Lee Carnie, CEO, Youthlaw
“The Victorian Government is already spending millions more on locking young people up than on community supports that would have kept them in schools and out of criminal legal systems. The focus should be on funding community supports that prevent youth crime in the first place – not harsher penalties for kids who’ve been let down by systems that didn’t support them.”
“Mandatory sentencing takes away a judge’s ability to look at who is actually in front of them. Too many young people pipelined into criminal legal systems have experienced child abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence themselves, but haven’t had access to supports to help them deal with what’s happened to them. Young people’s experiences of trauma don’t disappear just because the government sets a mandatory minimum.”
“Chief Commissioner Bush says young people who offend are focused on impressing their mates and genuinely don’t understand the consequences of what they’re doing. But that’s also the reason why imposing punitive mandatory sentences won’t work as an effective deterrent.”
“The Victorian Government has already committed to a thorough independent review of sentencing laws. Any sentencing changes should wait until the evidence has been properly considered, not rushed through ahead of the election.”
About Youthlaw
Youthlaw is Victoria’s specialist community legal centre for young people under 25. We provide free legal information, advice, casework, court representation, and systemic advocacy for young people statewide.
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Casey Dean | Media and Communications Lead
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