Curbing crime with a fresh approach
AN Indigenous-led justice group is taking an active new approach to curb youth crime in Townsville, getting sworn in as JPS and taking part in cautioning and conferencing first-time offenders.
Attorney-general Shannon Fentiman said members of the Townsville Justice Group (TJG) are now able to participate in youth justice conferencing and have also received additional training to become JP Magistrates.
“Reducing rates of serious youth offending and making the criminal justice system more culturally appropriate for Indigenous peoples are key priorities for our government,” she said.
“We know that we can only achieve this when we have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and respected persons embedded in key roles within our response to youth justice.
“Since 2020, the TJG has received funding to provide support to young people and their families who are appearing before the High Risk Youth Court in Townsville.
“At the request of the group, nominated members have now been trained by the department’s JP Branch, in conjunction with a former Murri Court magistrate, and have taken their oaths as JPS (Magistrates Courts).”
She said the additional training would be particularly valuable for things like youth justice conferencing, where a child offender, the victim and other people affected by their crime meet with an independent mediator’s help.
“They’re well-suited to lower-level youth offenders attending court for minor offences who can be matched to tailored inventions, so they can get their lives back on track before becoming serious offenders,” she said.
“In Townsville, these conferences are delivered collaboratively with Elders and Respected Persons, providing a culturally appropriate response for young Indigenous offenders.
“Importantly, they also provide victims of crime with a voice and an opportunity to be a part of any reparation of harm caused.”
TJG chairman Karl Mckenzie said eight of their members had recently completed JP training, including three of their teenage volunteers. He said they found the many youths they work with connect better with younger volunteers and are often more receptive to their advice about things like school, bad influences and friends.
Townsville Justice Group members have also partnered with the police in Townsville to trial a co-responder model for police cautioning. Under the new model — which rolled out in September — an Elder and a young person from the Townsville Justice Group complete the co-caution together and then attend a two-week follow-up with the young person for support or referral.
Mr Mckenzie said the new trial was already showing positive results with the firsttime offenders they had been working with.