Fed: NT should use non custodial methods for youths: NSW govt

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2000
Fed: NT should use non custodial methods for youths: NSW govt

SYDNEY, Feb 17 AAP - The Northern Territory should adopt more non-custodial alternatives
to prison for young offenders, the New South Wales government said today.

Deputy Premier and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Andrew Refshauge said while substantial
penalties for long-term repeat offenders were to be expected, juvenile justice programs
should be more forward looking.

"The Northern Territory should be looking at viable non-custodial alternatives for
15-year-old kids who steal Textas," Dr Refshauge said.

"It should...look at restorative justice like community service orders (CSOs) and the
NSW government's anti-graffiti clean-up CSOs.

"Those convicted of a crime, especially young people, should have their individual
cases and circumstances considered in sentencing."

Premier Bob Carr said the "three strikes and you're in" policy used in the NT failed
to take advantage of other non-custodial punishments such as counselling.

"(We) have a range of non-custodial alternatives and we've been able to reduce the
juvenile prison population," Mr Carr said.

"I think it's the wrong thing to put a 15-year-old into jail for stealing a Texta colour
given all we know about youth suicide and Aboriginal suicide in prison.

He also said Australia should ignore any international attention on the incident.

"We shouldn't clear this up because of fears of what image it creates of Australia
overseas," he said.

"We should fix it up because it's simply the wrong thing."

A 21-year-old man was jailed yesterday for one year for stealing a box of biscuits
worth $23 from the site of the world's richest manganese mine on Groote Eylandt.

One week ago a 15-year-old boy died in custody while serving a 28-day jail term for
stealing stationery and breaking a window.

AAP jw/tsm/ah/br

KEYWORD: MANDATORY NSW

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