A Rebecca White Labor Government is committed to addressing youth crime and making a real difference to community safety.
We’ll achieve this through implementing a range of evidence-based measures that will work in unison to help rehabilitate at risk young people, rather than simply setting them up for a cycle of reoffending.
First, we will boost the reach of the ground-breaking work of the JCP Youth program set up by local legend Will Smith, which is already achieving nation-leading results but remains unfunded by the government.
We’ll fund JCP’s ‘BEAST Program’ which is a responsive, outreach, mentorship program for young people aged 11-17 years. The program offers 24/7 outreach support to participants and includes several overnight camps, activity days, mentor sessions, regular contact and community engagement.
The program is unique in Australia, offering sustainable mentorship and programming over a prolonged period.
A $3.7 million investment over three years will go towards staffing to increase the reach of the ‘BEAST’ and ‘BEAST Ascent’ programs by 87 people, update and increase the organisation’s rapid response vehicle fleet and support additional equipment purchases for the JCP safe house respite accommodation.
This program has demonstrated success in reducing youth offending and recidivism and we know that if we can prevent the detention of just three young people, the government will have full return of the money invested and save more than $480,000.
This program is about keeping our community safe and setting our young people up for a better future.
Second, we’ll provide better support for police so they have more capacity to fight crime, where it’s needed most.
This includes Operation Saturate, a dedicated police taskforce with 12 staff to target repeat offenders and career criminals – stamping out crime in known hotspots through funding of $1.5 million per annum.
We’ll also support police through safe staffing levels, dedicated funding for country station relief, research to better understand police workload and wellbeing, recruiting 60 additional offers by 2030 and funding a strategic workforce plan.
This police investment will be complemented by restoring transparency to crime data to build public confidence.
Third, we’ll move to establish a standalone youth court which is an essential component of improving the youth justice system.
Recognising that youth justice in Tasmania has to change from start to finish, this court would be operated on a model similar to the Neighbourhood Justice Centre in Victoria.
This court would have a dedicated focus on young offenders, on early intervention, community education and diversionary practices.
In time this approach will reduce youth offending which in turn will mean less adult offending as less young people continue the cycle of crime we see currently.
Finally, all our youth crime initiatives will be underpinned by a clear commitment to take action and close Ashley Youth Detention Centre as soon as possible, and implementing the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations.
Everyone wants to live in safer communities with less crime and violence.
The Commission of Inquiry has exposed how broken the youth justice system is and change is essential – senseless rhetoric won’t get the job done.
After 10 years of the Liberals it’s time for a better future.
Labor takes youth crime seriously and we have a plan to reduce crime meaning safer communities and better outcomes for young people too.
Fast facts – Labor’s plan for a Better Future for community safety
- Funding JCP Youth’s groundbreaking BEAST programs - $3.7 million
- Operation saturate – dedicated police taskforce to target repeat offenders and career criminals - $1.5 million per annum
- Supported by a range of police support measures including safe staffing levels, dedicated funding for country station relief, research to better understand police workload and wellbeing and funding a strategic workforce plan
- Moving to establish a standalone youth court - $500k to scope the operations, find locations in the South, North and North West and fully cost the court
- Closing Ashley Youth Detention Centre as soon as possible
Rebecca White MP
Tasmanian Labor Leader