Why ankle monitors for young people on bail won’t work

Why ankle monitors for young people on bail won’t work

An RMIT expert explains electronic monitoring sets a dangerous precedent that could increase crime.

Dr Kathryn Daley is available for media interviews following her article, The Victorian government wants to trial electronic monitoring devices on young people. It's a bad idea in The Conversation.

Key points:

  • Electronic monitoring for people on bail impinges on our right to a presumption of innocence.
  • Evidence suggests this does not work and might increase crime as it creates a stigma, makes pathways into ‘mainstream’ community challenging, and can even create sub-cultures where crime is celebrated as a status symbol.
  • Proposed changes to bail laws for the youth system are out of step with what has been leant in the adult system.
  • Policy will disproportionately impact Indigenous youth.
  • Youth crime is usually associated with significant life disadvantage – addressing this is the best way to prevent crime. Policing responds to, not prevents, crime.

Dr Kathryn Daley is a Senior Lecturer in Youth Work and Youth Studies and the co-theme leader of the Housing Insecurity and Homelessness research program in the Social Equity Research Centre.  

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General media enquiries: RMIT Communications, 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au

03 April 2024

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03 April 2024

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