In the Northern Territory justice groups say they are opposed to new youth justice measures announced over the weekend which the NT government says will “crack down on repeat offenders” and introduce tough new measures for young offenders.
The announcement includes a boost in police resources, including “school-based policing” and a “massive increase in CCTV cameras across the territory,” as well as stronger bail and monitoring conditions for young offenders.
But the head of the Northern Territory Criminal Lawyer’s Association Marty Aust says the new measures aren’t aligned with the findings of the royal commission into the detention of children in the territory.
Cheryl Axleby, the head of the justice coalition Change the Record, says a return to “tough on crime” policies would only cause more pain and harm to kids and families.
