The Queensland Government has introduced a Bill into Parliament today for a new Australian-first court-ordered ‘circuit breaker’ rehabilitation program for repeat youth offenders.
The Government says the Youth Justice (Circuit Breaker) Amendment Bill 202 will give courts the power to sentence youth to the program, as a genuine alternative to detention.
This ensures youth offenders are removed from the community they have caused harm to, while providing them with the structure, discipline, education and intensive rehabilitation to prevent reoffending, said Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support, Laura Gerber.
“Circuit Breaker Sentencing will be the last stop before detention and offers youth offenders one final chance to turn their lives around,” Ms Gerber said.
“A program like Circuit Breaker Sentencing has never been done before in Australia, it’s tough, targeted and unashamedly focused on breaking the cycle of offending so we have fewer victims of crime in the State.
“It removes repeat offenders from our streets and compels them into intensive rehabilitation, rather than simply releasing them back into the community they caused harm to.”
The legislation outlines how the program will operate in a highly-controlled setting and cater for up to 60 youth offenders for up to six months.
Youth will participate in structured activities including ‘hands-on’ learning, for example in agricultural activities or livestock management, where they can gain practical knowledge, and the skills needed to help get them back on track.
Every participant will wear an electronic monitoring device to ensure strict compliance and the safety and security of the site and the community.
Expressions of interest are open, with the program expected to commence late this year.
