Associate Professor Brianna Chesser, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies
"There is no doubt that there has been a rise in youth offending over the last few years, but incarcerating a young person for decades is not the answer.
"Adult time for Violent Crime is a catchy phrase but the consequences of long-term incarceration on young people is well known. A better response would be to focus on re-engagement of youth, on education and on helping the parents of young people.
"The impact of youth offending cannot be denied – the community is scared and is tired of being targeted. But we have to remember that there is a bigger picture here for youth offenders. Why are they offending? What can be done to deter them at the source? Should society really be penalising children for actions undertaken when their brain has not even finished growing?"
Dr Brianna Chesser is a clinical forensic psychologist and criminal lawyer. She is an Associate Professor in Criminology and Justice in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University.
Dr Kathryn Daley, RMIT University Social Equity Research Centre
"Youth crime is a poverty problem. It is a child protection problem. It is a healthcare problem. It is easier for the government to frame children as evil rather than accept that their criminal behaviour could have been prevented with a government that adequately cared for children and young people.
"Jail time does not reduce offending - not for adults and not for young people. It is expensive and ineffective.
"The cost per day of jail for anyone, particularly a young person, could be more effectively used on evidence-based interventions.
"Consecutive governments have made no attempt to explain a complex social issue and policy landscape. Instead, they have raced to the bottom of the barrel to build children's prisons and breach their own policies."
Dr Kathryn Daley is Associate Director of Social Equity Research Centre and a senior lecturer at RMIT University. Her work is focused on improving the wellbeing of people living on the margins, particularly children and young people.
Dr Marietta Martinovic, Associate Professor in Criminology and Justice studies
"Longer jail sentences will not fix Victoria's youth crime problem. Even if they do have an effect in reducing the crime rates in the first instance, this will definitely not be sustainable.
"The government does seem to be doing the right thing by members of the community by imposing these tough laws, but the reality is that all the evidence that I have ever come across says that these do not work in the long term.
"What does seem to work is culturally specific, innovative and therapeutic approaches - there is no short, cheap, quick fix for a complex problem such as youth crime."
Dr Marietta Martinovic is an Associate Professor in Criminology and Justice studies in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University. Marietta is internationally recognised for transformative learning in prisons and developing opportunities for the inclusion of lived criminal justice experience in policy making.
***
General media enquiries: RMIT External Affairs and Media, 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au
