The Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory was instigated due to high-profile adverse incidents in youth detention centers. The Commission released a report in 2017 that provided an overview of the Northern Territory's youth justice system.
The Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory (RCPDCNT) published a report in 2017 examining the entire youth justice system in the Northern Territory. The report was prompted by significant negative events at youth detention facilities.
This review was one of several undertaken across Australia in response to similar incidents, including a comprehensive review of the Victorian youth justice system by Armytage and Ogloff. The RCPDCNT report is available online
The Australian Children’s Commissioners and Guardians published a statement on conditions and treatment in youth justice detention in 2017.
Additionally, a report was published in 2016 by the Australian Child Rights Taskforce concerning the progress of child rights in Australia after 25 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The multiple reviews and inquiries revealed several common themes:
● Youth entering the justice system, especially those in detention, often have many vulnerabilities and complex needs.
● Time spent in custody, particularly in segregation and isolation, can worsen these vulnerabilities, especially for Aboriginal youth who are significantly overrepresented in Australian youth justice systems.
The inquiries and reviews produced many recommendations over a large volume of reports.
The provided sources discuss reports concerning the youth justice system from various Australian states, including New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, and Victoria. However, the sources do not include information regarding a specific NT review beyond what is mentioned above.
.png){kind=logo}
