Stamping Out “Career Criminals”

A one-way ticket to the juvenile slammer is what links them but now the government is stepping in to stop a cycle of crime and incarceration. They come from diverse backgrounds: dysfunctional families, drug abuse and domestic violence. The big question is how we stop them from re-offending. According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BCSR) 71% of juvenile crims are reconvicted within four years of their first transgression.

This is what the state government is doing about it:

“…when they’re released they have to deal with the harsh reality Mum is a druggie, Dad doesn’t want to work and that the next meal is no guarantee.”

“THE community simply won’t accept uncontrollable kids being left to graduate into career criminals,” said the NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos in an announcement giving Children’s Court magistrates the power to order participation in education, training and behavioural programs.

New magistrate’s powers will help to deliver on an old election promise with the Attorney General saying they would assist “the Iemma Government achieve its State Plan goals of reducing rates of crime, re-offending and anti-social behaviour.”

For some the political issue is more personal - Blake Cochran has watched members of his extended family effectively grow up in the criminal justice system. “Whilst it is the children who are committing the crimes and being punished, often they know no better. Educational programs may help to show them the error of their ways but when they’re released they have to deal with the harsh reality Mum is a druggie, Dad doesn’t want to work and that the next meal is no guarantee.”

The Attorney General said children who failed to complete their orders could be sent to a juvenile detention centre. “If they refuse to take advantage of this opportunity, they run the risk of spending time behind bars.” Sceptic, Blake tells of a detention culture that wrongly encourages reliance on the system. In his view more time locked up is less time contributing positively to society. “It’s sadly ironic that, after stealing an ATM and subsequently being sentenced, my cousin actually enjoyed his time in gaol. Many of his friends and ‘cousins’ were already there…and he was allowed to workout most of the day.”

In a related study conducted by BCSR 155 Probation and Parole Officers were interviewed to identify obstacles to the rehabilitation of offenders in the community. Officers were asked to rate the importance of services to offender rehabilitation. The three services reported to be extremely important to offender rehabilitation were:

1. Drug and alcohol treatment (cited by 98 per cent as ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ important)
2. Mental health treatment (cited by 94 per cent as ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ important)
3. Secure and affordable accommodation (cited by 91 per cent as ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ important)

For the time being magistrates’ powers in the Children’s Court is a first step. Dealing with re-offending juveniles completely will mean improving services to assist them during and after detention. The new powers of enforcement will “give young offenders a chance to get the skills they need to get a job and turn away from a life of crime,” the Attorney General said.