On any given night in Australia, the average number of children in youth detention is 949. In 2019, 600 children aged 10-13 were subject to this.
In Australia, the age of criminal responsibility is just ten years old, despite the UN recommendation of 14. This means that a ten-year-old child can be tried and convicted of a crime, and subsequently sent to a detention facility.
Earlier this year, the Council of Attorney Generals met to discuss possible reforms to the issue, yet ultimately refused to commit to any revision of the system which disproportionately affects indigenous children. Indigenous children make up over half incarcerated youth nationally, despite being just 3.3% of the population. In the Northern Territory in 2018, 100% of incarcerated youth were indigenous.
The system has been openly criticised and faced calls by lawyers, psychologists and indigenous rights activists to raise the age. William Tilmouth, an Indigenous man who was sent to youth detention at the age of 14, has said that "we need to empower these children and work with their families. And part of that is giving them a chance to mature, they haven't learned life's lessons at 10."
Racist and oppressive structures dating back to colonisation in Australia have forced many indigenous populations into poverty and reduced their access to education. Each generation, children are facing the consequences and the cycle continues.
The system is unacceptable. Youth reoffending rates in Australia are as high as 80%. The majority of children in detention are charged with property-related offenses, such as theft. The majority come from homes of violence and families with histories of drug and alcohol abuse.
Where the money should be spent protecting children, it is incarcerating them.
Written by Josie
Artwork by Sophia Patterson
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