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.  

***

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

03 April 2024

Share

Return to RMIT News
03 April 2024

Share

Engage

Related News

news-electronic-dolphin-oil-water-1220px.jpg

‘Sea creature’ minibot hoovers up oil spills

RMIT University engineers in Australia have built a remote-controlled minibot that hoovers up oil spills using an innovative filtering system inspired by sea urchins.

Gangan co-researcher Guruwuy Ganambarr doing survey with resident Alissia Wirrpanda

Free Wi‑Fi for 53 remote communities – RMIT experts react

The federal government last week announced plans to install free public Wi‑Fi in a further 53 remote communities, in a move aimed at narrowing the digital divide for First Nations Australians.

1oo-years-of-tv-image1-1220x732px.jpg

One hundred years on, RMIT and industry experts consider what Australian culture might look like without broadcast TV

RMIT University convened Media & Communication luminaries for a ‘100 Years of Broadcast TV’ symposium to reflect on the impact of the broadcast signal in Australia and speculate about its future in the wake of major industry disruption.

mccraith-house-wrap-gelthumbnail-1220x723px.jpg

McCraith House Creative Residency Program wraps up a vibrant year of artistic experimentation and collaboration

RMIT’s College of Design and Social Context celebrates a year of creative residencies across literature, design, music, and performance.

Show more
aboriginal flag float-start torres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information