Question On Notice No. 2701 asked in the Legislative Council on 19 November 2019 by Hon Alison Xamon
Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I
refer to the ongoing decrease in the number of young people referred to
Juvenile Justice Teams (JJT) from 893 young people in 2013 to 577 in
2018-19, and I ask:
(a) why are fewer young people being referred to JJT;
(b) is any work being undertaken to increase the use of JJT;
(c) if yes to (b), will the Minister please advise what work is being undertaken; and
(d) if no to (b), why not?
Answered on 5 December 2019
(a) Statistics reported in the Department of Justice, Corrective Services’ (the Department) 2012/13 and 2013/14 Annual Reports reflect average daily figures of young people managed by Juvenile Justice Teams of 494 and 411 respectively. In comparison with the most recent 2018-19 average daily figure of 577 this reflects an increase rather than decrease.
(b)Yes.
(c)The Department’s Youth Justice Services (YJS) works collaboratively with the Western Australian Police Force and meets regularly with representatives from the Children’s Court to maintain their awareness of available diversionary options to reduce the formal involvement of young people in the criminal justice system. Through the Kimberley Juvenile Justice Strategy further work will be undertaken with Police to extend the capacity of Juvenile Justice Teams in remote areas.
(d) Not applicable.