Victoria’s bail laws which saw the rate of imprisonment for Aboriginal women doubled are set to be loosened within months.
Among the proposed changes is altering the unacceptable risk test to be more accommodating to lower-level offences so minor offences cannot be used to refuse bail.
The contentious reverse onus test which asks for offenders to demonstrate why bail should be granted instead of police having to show why bail has been denied is set to be targeted as well.
West Justice’s Anoushka Jeronimus says that she is looking forward to discussing the reforms with the government to ensure young people are treated fairly.
“We look forward with consulting with them along with sector partners in making sure that the current bail laws on young people are fully contemplated,” she said
Jeronimus hopes that future laws lessen the possibility of young people staying on remand and that all cases are dealt within the community so young people don’t have to separated from their families.
Jeronimus also supplied evidence during the Yoorrook Justice Commission into the Victorian Justice and Child Protection Systems which is set to continue discussing faults in existing bail laws throughout this week.
Full Interview with Anoushka Jeronimus discussing West Justice’s Youth Law Reform Agenda and bail law reforms across Victoria and Queensland:
