The Lawler Labor Government is continuing to deliver on its common sense plan to lower crime and reduce youth offending.
From this week, the Darwin Residential Youth Justice Facility is operational.
Up to 16 young people can be ordered by the Youth Court, to the Darwin program, which is being delivered by First Step Development Enterprises.
The residential youth justice facilities are designed to hold young people to account for their actions and ensure they get training to turn their lives around, stop re-offending and get a job.
Young people in the four facilities across the Northern Territory will engage in year-round education and training that is most suitable to the local job market, while also staying accountable to their bail conditions. If conditions are broken the youth will go back before the courts.
Courts can sentence young people to these facilities as an alternative to youth detention. A minimum sentence of 3-6 months will enable specialist youth justice and education teams to undertake meaningful work with the young people and put them on a path to education and employment and away from a life of offending.
The new facility includes three sleeping zones with individual rooms with ensuites, education and training spaces, a home style and commercial kitchen to learn cooking and life skills and outdoor areas.
The Tennant Creek facility is also operating with up to 6 young people able to be accommodated at the Juno Training Centre while a permanent facility is being built, with the Alice Spring Gap Road facility also delivering supported accommodation services. Work is also underway to establish a facility in Katherine.
Quotes attributed to Chief Minister Eva Lawler:
"No Territorian wants to see kids keep re-offending that's why these youth justice facilities will hold them accountable and get them skills so they can work."
"My Government is delivering these youth justice facilities to hold young offenders accountable and make sure they have skills to find and hold down a job."
"Courts can now sentence young people to the Darwin facility. This is part of my Government's common sense plan to reduce crime, which also includes a record $570 million boost to the Police budget over five years."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Territory Families, Ngaree Ah Kit:
"The Lawler Government's youth justice facilities provide young Territorians who are part of the youth justice system an opportunity to break the cycle of crime.
"Not only do young people get held accountable for their actions, they also get given a safe place to stay while they attend school or training program."
Northern Territory Government
