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NSW Government response to Juvenile Justice review released to the public
12 May 2010
The NSW Government has released a report by consultants Noetic into the State’s Juvenile Justice system, along with the Government’s response to the report.
In July 2009, the Minister for Juvenile Justice the Hon Graham West MP commissioned a strategic review of Juvenile Justice policy and practice. The Noetic Group was engaged to undertake the review and completed its report in January 2010.
On Thursday 6 May, the Minister announced the release of the report:
“The NSW Government is focused on reducing juvenile crime and preventing reoffending using diversionary and restorative justice programs,” Mr West said.
“The principles underpinning the Juvenile Justice system specify that juveniles only be sentenced to detention as a last resort, however the Government acknowledges that young people who have committed crimes need to take responsibility for their actions.”
The report includes 77 recommendations for Juvenile Justice policy and practice, with two recommendations directly involving the Commission for Children and Young People.
The review and the Government’s response is available at the Juvenile Justice website: http://www.djj.nsw.gov.au/strategic_review.htm
Recommendations involving the Commission
Recommendation 2: The NSW Government and the Legislation Review Committee of the NSW Parliament introduce a children and young person’s impact statement into legislation and policy development and amendment processes.
Response: “The Government, through the Commission, will keep under review the matter of whether there is a need to complement existing mechanisms for assessing impacts on children and young people with a formal impact statement.”
Recommendation 42: The Commission for Children and Young People conduct a special inquiry into NSW police practices affecting children and young people and their impact on community relationships.
Response: “One of the principal functions of the Commission for Children and Young People is to promote and monitor the overall safety, welfare and well-being of children in the community and to monitor trends in complaints made by or on behalf of children. There may be capacity for the Commission to monitor trends in complaints made by or on behalf of children and young people and their impact on community relations.”
The full Government response can be found at http://www.djj.nsw.gov.au/strategic_review.htm.
