New program for teen sexters

CHILDREN charged with sexting and cyber bullying offences may soon be referred to counselling programs where they will be forced to face their victims.

The educational program, to be announced today by Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath, is being developed by the State Government as an option in restorative justice.

Restorative justice generally focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims, allowing both parties to be heard.

It is expected to be implemented with the help of Bond University’s Psychology Clinic.

The program will allow courts or police to refer youth who have been involved in sexting to cyber bullying incidents to provisionally registered psychologists at Bond. It is designed to bring offenders and victims together to help them understand the consequences of their offending behaviour.

“This program is about educating young people who engage in this behaviour that it can have distressing and fatal consequences,” Ms D’Ath said.

Ms D’Ath said young people who sext and cyber bully need to be made aware they could be charged with criminal offences.

A report into child exploitation court matters released by the Queensland Sentencing and Advisory Council last month found, in the 10 years to June 2016, 1470 children had made or shared child exploitation material. This number represented nearly half of the total offenders who went through Queensland Courts.