New detention powers and sentencing rules for children

Making Queensland Safer Bill 2024

Private Member's Bill

Assembly

Introduced by: David Crisafulli (LNP)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

The Childrens Court no longer treats detention as a last resort when sentencing a child.
The Childrens Court must prioritize the impact of the offence on the victim.
The court can order up to 3 years of probation or detention for children who commit significant offences.
The court cannot order a child to participate in restorative justice for significant offences.
Courts can use a person's child criminal history when sentencing them as an adult if the last offence was within five years.
Victims and accredited media can now attend Childrens Court proceedings.
The court can no longer make orders to exclude these people from the courtroom.

News articles and press releases