Introduced into Parliament on Tuesday 18 June, the Youth Justice Bill 2024 would be Victoria’s first standalone Act for the state’s youth justice system, acquitting key recommendations from the landmark Youth Justice Review and Strategy conducted by Penny Armytage and Professor James Ogloff AM and delivering on the Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2020–2030.
The Bill would create a legislated scheme for warnings, cautions and early diversion to give police more tools to deal with anti-social behaviour before it escalates, becomes a risk to community safety and end up in court.
While police would still be able to lay charges, the new scheme would allow more children to get on the right path without the need for formal charges where appropriate.
The new legislation would also deliver an additional Magistrate, boosting the Children’s Court capacity to hear the criminal cases of repeat youth offenders.
