Courts No Longer Required to Treat Detention as a Last Resort for Children
Making Queensland Safer Bill 2024
Topics
child probation child sentencing criminal history criminal records detention centres human rights justice juvenile detention juvenile sentencing victim rights youth justice +6 more
Introduced by: The Hon David Crisafulli MP (LNP) — Premier
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
Courts no longer have to treat detention as a last resort when sentencing children.
Courts can order a child to be detained or placed on probation for up to 3 years.
When deciding if a child can be released after detention, courts must consider if the crime was particularly heinous.
The Chief Executive can direct that a person be held in a detention centre.
The Chief Executive must keep a register of people who are allowed to receive information, provided it does not risk someone's safety or welfare.
Adults are now considered 'previously convicted' if they were found guilty of a crime as a child.
In the Childrens Court, representatives for victims or the relatives of deceased victims can now be involved in proceedings.
Specific parts of the Youth Justice Act now apply even if they conflict with the Human Rights Act.