Western Australia's government says a comprehensive review of the state's juvenile justice system will deliver the best possible outcomes for both young offenders and the community.
Announced by Corrective Services Minister Bill Johnston on Tuesday, the review of the state's Young Offenders Act will focus on whether it is effectively rehabilitating and diverting juvenile offenders while also protecting the community.
"We need to make sure the Young Offenders Act is fit for purpose," Mr Johnston said.
"It's a nearly 30-year-old piece of legislation — we have to make sure that it's contemporary."
Mr Johnston said diversion continued to be a priority, but community protection remained a paramount consideration for the government.
"We've taken account of all the issues that are out there in the community, of course," he said.
"Violent young offenders need to be held accountable for their behaviour.
"But equally … custodial areas are very complex areas of policy and have to make sure that the legislation is right."
Review 'overdue'
The review will focus on the over-representation of young Aboriginal people in detention and the impacts of cognitive disabilities such as foetal alcohol spectrum disorder on young offenders.
Both issues are in the spotlight at WA's only youth detention centre at Banksia Hill, which has come under fire for inhumane conditions, staffing issues and the recent transfer of a number of high-risk offenders to the maximum security prison at Casuarina.
Kimberley mother Katheryn*, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has seen her sons spend time in Banskia Hill and adult prison for most of their lives.
She says the review is well overdue.
"I wish they could've looked at this years ago when our kids was in that [Banksia] praying for help, crying for help," she said.
"They've been through trauma and neglect from the whole community — nobody wants to know us as a family anymore."
Katheryn feels there has been little government support for her kids after their release from detention and prison.
"They're just going in and out, nothing is changing," she said.
"Education and culture will help them through to break the cycle and I want them … to be more supported."
Katheryn said the review was an opportunity to establish on-country rehabilitation and bootcamp-style facilities as an alternative to Banskia Hill.
Gascoyne 'war zone'
In Carnarvon, community leaders have likened areas of their town to a "war zone" and have made multiple requests to the WA government for action.
Long-time resident and former Labor candidate Cherie Sibosado says the review is an opportunity for the community to put forward solutions.
"I think it really is providing an opportunity for the community to one, raise their concerns, but also, most importantly, bring some real solutions to the table," she said.
Ms Sibosado hopes the review will lead to change.
"It's better than sitting on the sidelines and complaining and not being part of the process that could help mobilise action," she said.
"Let's put the solution on the table and let's see how we can support to drive that action and change."
Strategies need locked-in funding
In the state's far north, Kununurra residents have battled with repeated spikes in youth crime over the past several years.
Shire president David Menzel said the justice system was not dissuading children from committing crimes.
"I think we could surmise from the list of offences of some that we haven't really got a deterrent," he said.
"That doesn't seem to be a significant thought of those who are offending."
Mr Menzel said he welcomed the review and hoped it led to a greater focus on family-driven diversionary programs.
He said the state government needed to identify programs that were successfully preventing youth crime and give them enough long-term funding to attract high-quality staff.
"It's hard to get good people," Mr Menzel said.
"It's even harder to get really good people when you've only got 12 months or even two years of funding."
Concerns over lack of action
Psychologist, advocate and former West Australian of the Year Tracy Westerman said the government's proposal ignored the evidence of the trauma the system was causing.
"Nothing like having a review/inquiry/royal commission rather than taking practical action on the significant issues identified by multiple reports in relation to the inhumane treatment of kids in prison," she said.
Dr Westerman said the money would be better spent addressing the lack of adequate screening for trauma and mental health care within the system.
Kimberley-based Mining and Pastoral Region MP Neil Thomson said the government had effectively lost control of law and order in the state's regional communities.
"This review will give no confidence to the long-suffering people of the Kimberley who have had to put up with increasing levels of youth crime," he said.
"Every person I talk to says kids shouldn't be in prison — of course that's the desire.
"But a lot of these kids have a long list of very serious crimes against the community and people.
"We're not seeing enough urgency put into the intervention that needs to occur … that's nothing to do with the justice system and all about the services that are being delivered on the ground."
