The public debate on “youth crime” is increasingly pernicious, whipped up by negative public messaging about children and young people and increasingly placing pressure on government to respond with more punitive measures. This creates the risk that, in responding to this pressure and to alleviate community fear, government will introduce poor and harmful policy. We ...
Jesuit Social Services
Youth justice: Countering harm with evidence-based advocacy
GOAL
$450,000
Australia > National / Multi-state > Metro and Regional
07/01/2024 > 30/06/2027
Field of Interest
- Community and economic development
- Social inclusion and justice
Target Population
- Young people (6-25)
- People impacted by the legal system
Jesuit Social Services
Jesuit Social Services is a social change organisation working to build a just society where all people can live to their full potential. For over 45 years we have been accompanying and working with people and communities who are excluded and isolated, and who often experience multiple and complex challenges.
As an organisation, we do and we influence. We accompany people and communities to foster and regenerate the web of relationships that sustain us all – across people, place and planet; and we work to change policies, practices, ideas and values that perpetuate inequality, prejudice and exclusion.
We work where the need is greatest and where we have the capacity, experience and skills to make the most difference. We deliver services in Victoria, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and internationally through involvement in the Jesuit Prison Network.
Project Summary
The public debate on “youth crime” is increasingly pernicious, whipped up by negative public messaging about children and young people and increasingly placing pressure on government to respond with more punitive measures. This creates the risk that, in responding to this pressure and to alleviate community fear, government will introduce poor and harmful policy.
We are seeking to influence public awareness and policy on youth justice by undertaking strategic and concerted advocacy in collaboration with partners that will see the recent regression of public debate countered. This work will be focused through our Worth a Second Chance campaign.
We want to once again centre the voice of those with lived experience and advocate for solutions based in evidence and best practice, and present an accurate and sober picture of what is an inherently complex, fraught and emotional space.
Building on our previous campaigning experience in this space and informed by our decades-long work in practice and advocacy, we will work to shift the narrative to create the conditions for broad transformation of youth justice policy, including an authorising environment and public pressure for State and Territory governments to commit to and follow through on raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 with no exceptions.
This advocacy will foster the development of alternative service models within the sector to address children’s behaviour therapeutically where required, and shift the approach to children away from harsh and punitive measures and towards humane, evidence-based practice that supports children and communities to flourish.
Project Outcomes
We seek to create the conditions for broad transformation of youth justice policy, including an authorising environment and public pressure for State and Territory governments to commit to and follow through on raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 with no exceptions.
This advocacy will foster the development of alternative service models within the sector to address children’s behaviour therapeutically where required, and shift the approach to children away from harsh and punitive measures and towards humane, evidence-based practice that supports children and communities to flourish.
In 2018, we launched the Worth a Second Chance campaign to advocate for a humane, evidence-based approach based in our experience in youth justice work alongside the voices of experts, academics and practitioners, and the voices, stories and lived experiences of the children and young people we work with daily.
Worth A Second Chance achieved some significant wins. It contributed to:
- a more nuanced and empathetic political and media landscape
- commitments by the Victorian, Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory governments to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12 or 14 years
- the development of youth strategies by different state and territory governments
- increased funding for diversion, prevention and restorative justice programs
- revised plans for the Cherry Creek and Parkville youth justice centres in Victoria.
Due in part to its success, funding for Worth a Second Chance ended after two years and the campaign has lay mostly dormant. All assets remain property of Jesuit Social Services, ready to be re-invigorated.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $540,300
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-kind (confirmed) | $90,300 |
| Funding Gap (unconfirmed) | $450,000 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sallary (3 years) | $325,500 |
| On-costs (including Super, leave provision, phone, computer, property) | $124,500 |
| Management and admin | $90,300 |
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