HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE CALLS FOR REHABILITATIVE APPROACH TO YOUNG OFFENDERS

June Oscar

A leading Indigenous human rights advocate has called for a community-driven approach to address Western Australia’s youth justice crisis.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar said she welcomed Premier Mark McGowan’s decision to call crisis talks on youth detention.

She said the government needs to move away from a model focused on incarceration.

“We need to explore what rehabilitative, reforming and healing programs can look like,” Ms Oscar said.

“We can empower families and communities and community organisations to have a role.

“The government needs to move away from thinking incarcerating children is going to rehabilitate them and reform them. It is not.”

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