ECU Criminology researchers with The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Jacqueline McGowan-Jones.
The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Jacqueline McGowan-Jones, has called for greater compassion and systemic reform in Western Australia's youth justice system, describing it as "a crisis of care" that continues to fail the state's most vulnerable children.
The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Jacqueline McGowan-Jones.
Speaking at the recent inaugural Justice Research Network Conference at Edith Cowan University's (ECU's) Mount Lawley Campus, Ms McGowan-Jones advocated for a child centred holistic approach to youth justice.
The Justice Research Network Conference, themed Young People and Justice, brought together researchers, practitioners and policy-makers to share insights and innovation in working with justice involved youth.
"The youth legal system is not a youth justice system in any way, shape or form," Ms McGowan-Jones said.
"There is no justice in a system that criminalises, dehumanises and demonises young people."
"We need a holistic response where the child is at the centre and we work with the family to support our children and young people in detention."
Of around 653,000 children and young people in Western Australia aged 0 – 17, approximately 1,200 are involved in the youth legal system.
Ms McGowan-Jones told attendees while the number of children in detention had reduced in the past 12 years, recidivism rates were high.
"Our kids are returning in unprecedented numbers," she said.
"So clearly we haven't done what they need to keep them safe, keep them engaged, and keep them from returning."
The Commissioner said reforms such as raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility and investing in family-centred, early-intervention approaches were urgently needed.
"We are blaming children for the circumstances they are placed into," she said.
"These children have no control over where they're born or the environment they live in. It takes a community to raise a child."
The Commissioner called on the conference attendees to 'speak up' to combat public ignorance and racism that surrounds perceptions of justice involved children and young people. She stressed 'loud voices' were needed to persuade politicians to make bold changes to radically improve outcomes for young people, prevent crime, lower reoffending and increase community safety.
The program featured three key panel discussions. The first, Challenges for Justice Involved Youth, included contributions from Associate Professor Jocelyn Jones (ECU Kurongkurl Katitjin), Eamon Ryan (Inspector for Custodial Services) and Dr Hayley Passmore (UWA), who called for the cultural safety and unique needs of children and young people who are sentenced to detention to tackle the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and cognitively impaired children in these spaces.
Associate Professor Jocelyn Jones (ECU Kurongkurl Katitjin), Eamon Ryan (Inspector for Custodial Services) and Dr Hayley Passmore (UWA).
The second panel, Voices from Youth Justice Spaces, featured Dennis Simmons (Maar Koodjal), Dr Cate Parry (ECU) and Peter Collins (Aboriginal Legal Service), who shared the stark realities of the lives and impacts of interacting with the system on some of the state's most vulnerable children. They shared their experiences of working with children and young people, who, despite adversity and past wrongdoing, were resilient, funny and engaged and need support to integrate back into society and cease offending.
A final session, Future Thinking for Young People and Justice, brought together, Ronald Bin Swani (Social Reinvestment WA) and Magistrate Horrigan (Children's Court WA) to explore lived experiences, working within the current system and pathways for systemic reform.
Professor Matthew Allen, Executive Dean of ECU's School of Arts and Humanities, said the event established an important new platform for collaboration on justice research and reform.
"This conference brings together academics, practitioners and communities committed to improving outcomes for young people," Professor Allen said.
"It marks the beginning of an important conversation about evidence-based, compassionate approaches to justice in Western Australia."
