Queensland to impose mandatory jail terms for youth bail breaches as repeat offending falls
Will bring in mandatory sentences for youth offenders who break bail by committing crimes listed under the state’s adult crime laws, as the govern...
Queensland will bring in mandatory sentences for youth offenders who break bail by committing crimes listed under the state’s adult crime laws, as the government moves to harden its youth justice approach. Premier David Crisafulli said on August 23 that the planned changes are part of the next phase of the state’s Adult Crime, Adult Time policy.
The announcement comes after new government figures showed almost one in three serious youth offenders are committing crimes while out on bail. The state says almost two in three serious youth offenders are offending on bail, and 38% are committing offences covered by Adult Crime, Adult Time legislation. Tough numbers. Bigger consequences.
Bail breaches in focus
The proposed reform would introduce mandatory minimum sentences for breaches of bail, with offenders sent back to jail. Laura Gerber, the minister for youth justice and victim support, said breaching bail by committing a crime listed under the Adult Crime, Adult Time laws would trigger the tougher response.
Crisafulli said the changes amount to the “most significant reforms to bail” in Queensland’s history. He also said the reforms could be expanded to include adult offenders. That prospect will put pressure on the state’s prison system, and on the politics of law and order at the same time.
Pressure on the prison system
Corrective services unions have already raised concerns about the impact of more prisoners entering the system. Their warning lands at a sensitive point: Queensland is tightening penalties, but it will still need staff, cells and space to absorb the fallout if more people are returned to custody.
The government, for its part, is pointing to a different trend. It says the number of serious repeat youth offenders has dropped by 29% as it prepares to unveil the tougher bail-breach stance. The reform package now heads into its next stage, with the government betting that sharper consequences will curb offending while out on bail.
