27 October 2009
Leading NSW community organisations agree that too many children and young people are being held in detention before sentencing simply because they have nowhere else to go.

In 2008, 5081 children and young people were held in custody for an average of two weeks before sentencing. Only one in seven children and young people went on to be sentenced to detention. Eighty-four per cent of young people remanded into custody did not receive a custodial order after sentencing.

The NSW Minister for Juvenile Justice Hon Graham West MP will launch Releasing the Pressure on Remand: Bail support solutions for children and young people in NSW tomorrow at NSW Parliament.

Community supporters of reform include Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS), Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), CREATE Foundation, Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA), Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat (AbSec), Youth Action & Policy Association (YAPA), Youth Justice Coalition (YJC), UnitingCare Burnside, Anglicare, Wesley Mission, Barnardos and Catholic Social Services.

NCOSS Director Alison Peters hoped that the event would provide an opportunity to inform the debate around a fairer and safer justice system for NSW children and young people.

"It is wrong to keep kids locked up when they end up not being convicted or receive a non-custodial sentence".

"One great option would be a strong residential bail support program: this would help to ease the squeeze on overloaded juvenile detention centres," Ms Peters said.

UnitingCare Burnside Chief Executive Officer Jane Woodruff agrees that options such as a strong residential bail support program would provide an alternative for young people without family support.

"From our work with disadvantaged young people across NSW, we know that there is a real need for safe and supervised places for young people to stay while on bail."

"A residential bail support program would also support the NSW Government’s new Bail Hotline initiative, giving another option for children and young people trying to find their feet in the community," Ms Woodruff said.

Media Contact

• Alison Peters, Director, NCOSS
  phone:0425 231 814
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• Elizabeth Scully, UnitingCare Burnside 
  phone: 0438 294 938
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