Advertisement

Mass changes planned for juvenile justice laws

In what police say will be one of the biggest changes to the Juvenile Justice Act in 20 years, Queensland's Attorney-General will fight to keep some child criminals off the streets.

Jarrod Bleijie's bill will target juveniles who repeatedly re-offend on bail.

At just 15, one juvenile offender has 74 break and enter charges, 73 car stealing charges, one count of arson and one of evading police.

The boy, who cannot be named or identified for legal reasons, was a key scalp of Taskforce Perpetual - a police unit targeting ram raiders in the south east.

The juvenile, from Beaudesert, faced court four times, and four times he was granted bail.

Police say he was given freedom to reoffend.

Mr Bliejie said he wants to introduce a
Mr Bliejie said he wants to introduce a

Prosecutors fought for him to be locked up in juvenile detention until his guilt was proven.

"...his continuing to commit further like offences, his blatant disregard for bail conditions and his dangerous risk taking behaviour is placing himself and others at risk of serious crime," Prosecutors wrote, before a magistrate refused the request to have him locked up.

When the 15-year-old re-appeared in court after re-offending, prosecutors said: "He committed 25 further almost identical offences over a 24 hour period within 48 hours of being granted bail."

The teenager is now on the run with three warrants for his arrest and 27 new outstanding charges.

Police estimate his crimes have cost south east Queenslanders at least $1 million.

In Queensland, there is no offence when juveniles breach their bail - every crime is treated separately, unlike adult offenders where it shows a pattern of behaviour.

In Logan during one month of 59 juveniles on bail, 53 re-offended.

"In Queensland right now we've got some juveniles the best place for the community to feel safe is to have these young people off our street,” Attorney-General Jarrod Bliejie said.

Mr Bliejie said he wants to introduce a "breach of bail" into the Juvenile Justice Act.

“I'm yet to be convinced whether it's one strike, two strike or three strike in terms of remanding a young person in custody,” he said

“But ultimately it can lead to young person becoming more of a career criminal and entering the college of crime and we don't more graduating into the college of crime.

"I think the courts should have the option to take in those previous offences."

The youngest of the juveniles awaiting sentence in Queensland on bail is just 10 years old.

Even if they're convicted under the law, their record is wiped when they turn 17.

The bill will be put to cabinet by the end of the year.

Police estimate one boy's crimes have cost south east Queenslanders at least $1 million.
Police estimate one boy's crimes have cost south east Queenslanders at least $1 million.