3—Objects and guiding principles
(1) The objects of
this Act are—
(a) to
provide mechanisms for the establishment and proper administration of training
centres, community based supervision services and other facilities and
services relating to youths who offend against the criminal law; and
(b) to
provide for the safe, humane and secure management of youths held in training
centres in the State; and
(c) to
provide for appropriate programs for youths who are in detention or under
supervision in the community; and
(d) to
follow, to the extent practicable, international and national requirements or
guidelines relating to the detention of youths; and
(e) to
promote the rehabilitation of youths by providing them with the care,
correction and guidance necessary for their development into responsible
members of the community and the proper realisation of their potential; and
(f) to
have regard to the rights of victims of crime; and
(g) to
have regard to the particular needs and circumstances of youths who are under
the guardianship of the Chief Executive, or of whom the Chief Executive has
custody, under the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 and who
are residents of training centres or are required to be supervised in the
community; and
(h) to
have regard to the particular needs and circumstances relevant to a youth's
cultural identity and linguistic background; and
(i)
to promote, and endeavour to ensure compliance with, the
Charter of Rights for Youths Detained in Training Centres ; and
(j) to
recognise the importance of family and community involvement and participation
in administering youth justice; and
(k) to
support the reintegration of youths with the community as part of their
rehabilitation; and
(l) to
promote community safety.
(2) The Minister, the
Chief Executive, the Department and other persons and bodies involved in the
administration of this Act are to be guided by the following principles in the
exercise of their functions:
(a) in
exercising powers under this Act, consideration should at all times be given
to promoting the well being and best interests of youths;
(b)
youths should be made aware of their obligations under the law and of the
consequences of any breach of the law;
(c) the
management of residents of training centres, and youths who are subject to
supervision in the community, should be designed to achieve their
rehabilitation and development into responsible members of the community and
the proper realisation of their potential;
(d) the
community, and individual members of it, must be adequately protected against
violent or wrongful acts;
(e)
facilities and programs developed for the care, rehabilitation, detention,
training, therapeutic treatment or other treatment of youths should—
(i)
be evidence based; and
(ii)
be individually designed as much as reasonably
practicable—
(A) to take account of the youth's age,
gender, gender identity, sexuality or sexual identity, cultural identity,
developmental and cognitive capacity, ability or disability, and any special
needs; and
(B) to promote the health of the youth; and
(C) to promote the educational and
vocational training needs of the youth; and
(D) to address offending behaviours; and
(iii)
be governed by a comprehensive assessment and case plan
developed in a multi-disciplinary framework; and
(iv)
support a focus on connecting and reintegrating with
family and community; and
(v)
take into consideration the different traditions,
cultural values and religious beliefs of ethnic or racial groups within the
youth's community; and
(vi)
emphasise individual responsibilities.
(3) In addition to the
principles set out in subsection (2), a person or body exercising a
function or power under this Act in relation to an
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander youth must—
(a)
observe the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Justice Principle; and
(b) have
regard to the particular needs and circumstances of Aboriginal or
Torres Strait Islander youths who are residents of training centres or are
under supervision in the community; and
(c)
recognise the diversity of cultures within Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander communities.