National Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell has called on Queensland authorities to end their policy of sentencing 17-year-old offenders to serve their sentences in adult prisons.
Ms Mitchell said that Queensland is the only jurisdiction to allow this policy.
‘Sending 17-year-olds to adult prisons is actually a contravention of Australia's obligations under the Convention for the Rights of the Child,’ she said.
‘That convention, which nearly every country in the world has signed, specifically notes that children have particular developmental needs and requirements and need to be treated differently than adults, and that includes 17-year-olds.’
Ms Mitchell, who is currently touring Australia to speak to children and child advocates, urged the Queensland Government to divert prisons funding into programs that promote school retention, training and employment, and programs that support families and people dealing with drug abuse.
(Source: Youth Field Xpress June)
Ms Mitchell said that Queensland is the only jurisdiction to allow this policy.
‘Sending 17-year-olds to adult prisons is actually a contravention of Australia's obligations under the Convention for the Rights of the Child,’ she said.
‘That convention, which nearly every country in the world has signed, specifically notes that children have particular developmental needs and requirements and need to be treated differently than adults, and that includes 17-year-olds.’
Ms Mitchell, who is currently touring Australia to speak to children and child advocates, urged the Queensland Government to divert prisons funding into programs that promote school retention, training and employment, and programs that support families and people dealing with drug abuse.
(Source: Youth Field Xpress June)
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