The AGE argues that the two most fundamental changes required to fix the crisis in the juvenile detention system are building proper centres that have adequate high-security sections for recidivists who commit violence and other serious crimes, and then staffing them properly.
The Victorian government's failure to mitigate, let alone solve, the protracted crisis in the juvenile detention system is appalling.
Community concern and even fury has also been fuelled in recent days by yet another riot in a youth detention centre, and by an alleged spree of serious crime by several of the 15 inmates who escaped in the riot.
The government should consider moving responsibility for youth justice centres to the Department of Corrections from the Department of Human Services. But that, too, won't in itself solve anything. The two most fundamental changes required are building proper centres that have adequate high-security sections for recidivists who commit violence and other serious crimes, and then staffing them properly.
The government announced guards from adult prisons will be brought in to control youth offenders in the Malmsbury youth detention centre, where the latest riot and breakout occurred, and at the Parkville centre, where there have been many recent riots.
Premier Daniel Andrews concedes a purpose-built centre is long-overdue. Get on with it.
