Youth Justice Strategy evidence

The content of the Youth Justice Strategy is founded on careful and thorough analysis of a wide range of:

academic literature
key strategies and reports
qualitative human research.

Academic literature

The department analysed of a range of academic sources to get various insights and perspectives on topics within the strategy, including systematic reviews produced by the Campbell Collaboration’s Social Welfare Coordinating Group on practice, policy, and research. The Campbell Collaboration papers are key sources for the 'What works and what doesn’t' section of the strategy.

What works

The literature shows a number of things work, including:

trauma-informed approaches
prevention
diversion
responding to needs and addressing causes of offending
programs run at the right intensity and for the right length of time to effect change
keeping children and young people active and engaged with community
restorative justice
mentoring for young people at high risk of offending
cultural engagement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

Resource list

Judy Atkinson, (2013) 'Trauma–informed services and trauma-specific care for Indigenous Australian children', Resource Sheet no. 21, Closing the Gap Clearing House
Hugh de Kretser, 'Myths misinformation and missed opportunities', Crime and Justice, Insight Magazine, Issue 8
Ross Homel and others (2015), 'Preventing the onset of youth offending: The impact of the Pathways to Prevention Project on child behaviour and wellbeing', Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, Australian Institute of Criminology
Mark Lipsey, (2009), The Primary Factors that Characterize Effective Interventions with Juvenile Offenders, A Meta-Analytic Overview, 'Victims and Offenders', Vol 4, pp 124-147
Leesa Morris, and others, 'Sport, physical activity and anti-social behaviour in youth', Trends and Issues in crime and criminal justice, Australian Institute of Criminology, No 249, April, 2003
Kelly Richards and Lauren Renshaw (2013), Bail and Remand for young people in Australia: A national research project, Australian Institute of Criminology, February 2011
Heather Strang and others (2013), 'Restorative justice conferencing (RJC) using face-to-face meetings of offenders and victims: effects on offender recidivism and victims satisfaction', Campbell Collaboration
Vicki-Ann Ware (2013), 'Mentoring programs for indigenous youth at risk', Closing the Gap Clearing House, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
David Wilson and others (2018), 'Police-initiated diversion for youth to prevent future delinquent behaviour', Campbell Collaboration
Patrick Tolan and others (2013), 'Mentoring interventions to affect juvenile delinquency and associated problems', Campbell Collaboration

What doesn’t work

The literature also shows what doesn’t work, including:

that detention is not an effective option other than to protect the community from offenders who pose a serious risk to community safety
that detention is no more effective than community-based programs and has a range of negative impacts
scared straight programs
boot camps
curfews.

Resource list

Patrick McCarthy and others, 'The Future of Youth Justice: A community based alternative to the youth prison model', New Thinking in Community Corrections Bulletin, Washington D.C. US Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, 2016
Anthony Petrosino and others (2013) 'Scared straight and other juvenile awareness programs for preventing juvenile delinquency: A systematic review', Campbell Collaboration
Patrice Villettaz and others (2015) 'The effect of re-offending of custodial vs non-custodial sanctions', Campbell Collaboration
David Wilson and others (2005) 'Effects of correctional boot camps on offending', Campbell Collaboration
David Wilson and others (2016) 'Juvenile curfew effects on criminal behaviour and victimisation', Campbell Collaboration

Data sources

The department has drawn data from a range of sources in the development of the Youth Justice Strategy. Published data for Queensland youth justice include:

In addition, unpublished data and advice from a range of sources was incorporated:

Youth Justice census data 2018, Young people under supervision using two or more substances, unpublished
Youth Justice performance and reporting 2018, Number of young people aged 10-15 with a proven offence in 2016-17, unpublished
Youth Justice performance and reporting 2018, Profile of children and young people under supervision, unpublished data
Queensland Police Service dversion data 2018, unpublished data
Program advice on the number of completed certificates through Transition to Success
Regional advice on the number of families of children and young people monitored or contacted as part of the Townsville Stronger Communities Action Plan, unpublished.

The department has also drawn data from key external sources including:

the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare on youth justice in Australia, the number of young people who return to youth justice supervision and the number of young people in child protection and under youth justice supervision data table S4
the Australian Productivity Commission who publish government data on youth justice services across Australia
the Australian Bureau of Statistics for crime statistics
the Australian Institute of Family Studies on the links between children and young people in the youth justice and child protection systems and the overlap between young people under supervision and alcohol and drug use.

Key Queensland strategies and reports

To take into account the Queensland context, various reports and strategies that relate specifically the state were examined including:

the Atkinson Report on Youth Justice (PDF, 826 KB)
the Independent Review of Detention report
the Age of Criminal Responsibility in Queensland publication by the Queensland Family and Child Commission
Our Way - A generational strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families 2017-2037
Transition to Success evaluation report (PDF, 3.6 MB) (Deloitte)
Stott, L., Hill, K., and Livingstone, L, October 2015, Coordinated Care for Young People Evaluation Report, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
Restorative justice conferencing evaluation
Action on Ice The Queensland Government’s plan to address use and harms caused by crystal methamphetamine
Annual Report Cairns Safer Streets 2017-18, Cairns Safer Streets Workgroup, unpublished.

Key strategies, reports and resources from other jurisdictions

The department examined reports, strategies and reviews of key Australian and international jurisdictions to take into account the best thinking available across Australian and international jurisdictions.

New Zealand

Sir Peter Gluckman, 'It’s Never too Early, Never too Late: A discussion paper on preventing youth offending in New Zealand', Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, 12 June 2018
Ministry for Children – Oranga Tamariki (New Zealand)
Department of Justice, 'Youth Crime Action Plan – 2013-2023', New Zealand, 2013

Scotland

Justice Directorate, 2015, Preventing Offending: Getting it Right for Children and Young People - Our Youth Justice Strategy 2015-2020, Scottish Government
Justice Board for Scotland, 'Justice in Scotland: Vision and Priorities', July 2017

Wales

Youth Justice Board (Wales), 'Children and Young People First', Welsh Government July 2014

United States

March 2018, Does Keeping Youth Close to Home Really Matter? A case Study, a pre-publication discussion, Columbia Justice Lab, Annie E Casey Foundation, unpublished

Australia

CREATE Foundation, 'Youth Justice Report, Consultation with young people in out-of–home care about their experiences with police, courts and detention', 2018

New South Wales

Johnstone, Judge P, 2017, Early Intervention, Diversion and Rehabilitation from the Perspective of the Childrens Court of NSW, Annual Juvenile Justice Summit, Sydney,

Victoria

Penny Armytage and James Ogloff 'Youth Justice Review and Strategy – Meeting needs and reducing offending' – July 2017 Victoria and Legal and Social Issues Committee, 'Inquiry into Youth Justice centres in Victoria', Parliament of Victoria, 2018

Northern Territory

Hon Margaret White, and Michael Gooda, 'Report of the Royal Commission and Board of Enquiry into the protection and detention of children in the Northern Territory', 2017
Reform Management Office, 'Safe Thriving and Connected – Generational change for children and families – 2018-2023 Response to the Royal Commission and Board of Enquiry into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory', Northern Territory Government, 2018

Australian Capital Territory

ACT Children and Young People Commissioner, 'Children and Young people with Complex needs in the ACT Youth Justice System – criminal justice responses to mental health conditions, cognitive disability, drug and alcohol disorders and childhood trauma', March 2016