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Legal body commends youth crime reforms
The Law Institute of Victoria has welcomed the state government’s new suite of reforms, which aim to address youth crime.
Emma Musgrave
According to the legal body, the new reforms to youth control orders and the Intensive Monitoring and Control Bail Supervision Scheme are an “encouraging move”, which will help deter young offenders from “graduating” into the adult prison system.
“This is just what these young people and their families need,” Mr Sapountsis said.
“Rehabilitation is paramount in the case of young offenders, and when they get this level of support it can help turn the life of a young person around.”
Under the reforms, a new youth control order (YCO) will be established, which Mr Sapountsis noted has similarities to a community correction order (CCO). It will include curfews, restrictions on whom the offender may associate with, and will also require the young person to comply with an education, training or employment plan.
The new Intensive Monitoring and Control Bail Supervision Scheme will also have a boosted supervisory requirement, with offenders needing to comply with education, training or work requirements.
Mr Sapountsis noted that while the LIV welcomes the added supervisory element of both schemes, appropriate resources must be provided to ensure young offenders are supervised by people highly skilled in providing support in education, mental health and drug and alcohol abuse.
“What we hope to see is adequate funding to properly design these programs and employ skilled and qualified supervisors to ensure that the programs are a success,” Mr Sapountsis said.
“A lot of these young people come from troubled backgrounds and need skilled support to divert them from a life of crime.”
Both schemes also include penalties for non-compliance with the requirements, which can include custody or bail being revoked. Mr Sapountsis said this is appropriate as long as there is discretion from magistrates as to how penalties are imposed.
“The LIV did have some concerns with the reforms. While the so-called Fagin’s Law may be targeting ‘bigwigs’, it could also apply to others,” Mr Sapountsis said.
“Would a 19-yearo-ld who incited their younger brother to shoplift be facing 10 years in jail, for instance?”
Emma Musgrave
Emma Musgrave (née Ryan) is the managing editor, professional services at Momentum Media.
Emma has worked for Momentum Media since 2015, including five years spent as the editor of the company's legal brand - Lawyers Weekly. Throughout her time at Momentum, she has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest stories in corporate Australia. In addition, she has produced exclusive multimedia and event content related to the company's respective brands and audiences.
Prior to joining Momentum Media, Emma worked in breakfast radio, delivering news to the Central West region of NSW, before taking on a radio journalist role at Southern Cross Austereo, based in Townsville, North Queensland.
She holds a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) degree from Charles Sturt University.
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