News

24 August 2023

Child advocacy and support organisation SHINE for Kids has expressed concern over the Queensland Government’s move to allow police watch houses and adult prisons to be used as youth detention centres.

SHINE for Kids CEO Julie Hourigan said youth crime in Queensland is a very serious issue that needs to be addressed.

“Locking up children might make people feel safer, but it doesn’t reduce crime or make them safer’,” Ms Hourigan said.

“We completely agree that Queenslanders need to feel safe and that youth crime is a very serious issue in the state that needs urgent attention.

“The government needs to address community safety with interventions that work, not just get headlines.

“We also argue that locking young children up is not the only way to combat the issue – and it often leads to poorer outcomes in the long-term for these kids and community safety.”

“There are currently 43,000 children in Australia who have a parent in prison. These children are six times more likely to be incarcerated as adults themselves.

We also argue that locking young children up is not the only way to combat the issue – and it often leads to poorer outcomes in the long-term for these kids and community safety.

“We urge the Queensland Government to put more focus on intervention and prevention services to address these issues at their core, and to help turn young people away from a lifetime of crime.”

SHINE for Kids supports children and young people exposed to the justice system, with the core objective of reducing intergenerational harm.

SHINE for Kids delivers programs and services in Queensland to support children and young people with a parent in prison. It also delivers programs to support children and young people in youth correction centres.

For more information on SHINE for Kids, visit shineforkids.org.au

Media contact: Billy Briggs | 0474 697 235