Crime lessons Sydney could learn from former murder capital of Europe
Young people contracted by gangs to commit crimes including shootings "shouldn't be punished" for being "exploited", a justice reform advocate says.
A justice reform advocate argues that young individuals coerced into criminal acts should not be held responsible due to exploitation by adult gang members. Scotland, Spain, Hawaii, and New York have successfully reduced youth crime through a public health approach. Proposed legislation in New South Wales (NSW) aims to treat children convicted of organized crime violence as adults.
The Minns government announced the possibility of imposing life imprisonment for aggravated offenses such as conspiracy and attempted murder. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon reported that some children are recruited on the dark web for minimal compensation, disregarding the consequences of their actions. Taskforce Falcon, established to combat organized crime, has arrested over 800 individuals, including young people, in the past year.
Justice Reform Initiative (JRI) executive director Mindy Sotiri contends that criminalizing children exacerbates disadvantage and increases reoffending rates. She asserts that prison harms children, worsening their circumstances and pushing them further into more serious criminality. Approximately 208 children are currently incarcerated in NSW, with most not having been found guilty.
The reasons behind young people's involvement in crime must be addressed. Youth Justice NSW executive director Kelly-Anne Stewart acknowledges the vulnerabilities of young individuals, including school disengagement, homelessness, disability, mental health issues, and family dysfunction. The government has allocated $146.3 million to early intervention and diversion programs aimed at guiding at-risk youth away from crime.
Community collaboration is essential in identifying at-risk youth and providing them with mentorship opportunities.
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