The Territory Labor Government is putting victims first and ensuring that young people who do the wrong thing face consequences, including facing the impact of their offending.

From this year, $900,000 will be invested into expanding court-ordered youth justice conferencing and $1.25M will be invested into Victims of Crime NT over five years to deliver a victim support program.

The announcement is part of the Territory Labor Government’s Back on Track plan, which tackles youth crime by giving police and courts the ability to get kids off the street and into programs like boot camps to get their lives back on track.

Back on Track expands court ordered youth justice conferencing, which forces offenders to sit before victims and face up to the consequences of their actions.

Research has identified this as a very effective method of deterring recidivist offending.

A new partnership with the Community Justice Centre and the NT Government will see youth justice conferencing expanded to Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, where it is currently not available.

The second phase of the partnership will include a two year pilot program in three remote communities, working with elders groups and law and justice groups to build a youth justice conferencing model that aligns with Local Decision Making and can create local jobs.

Quotes from Minister for Territory Families, Dale Wakefield.

“Young people who do the wrong thing must face the consequences because all Territorians have the right to be safe.

“Back on Track includes special programs which have proven to stop repeat offenders committing more crime, and includes expanding court ordered youth justice conferencing, which forces offenders to sit before victims and face up to the consequences of their actions.

“It also gives victims of crime closure, by offering them the chance to face their offenders and ensure that the impact of the crime is heard.”

Quotes from Community Justice Centre Director Troy Degenhardt.

“The conferencing process can be confronting, emotional, transformative and powerful; and will quite often lead to a higher level of satisfaction for all participants.

“One of the most valuable considerations of conferencing comes from empowerment  – to empower a victim to have their say and seek suitable reparation for a crime while also empowering an offender to take ownership, navigate elements of shame and to ultimately demonstrate through action the righting of a wrong.”

Media Contact: Kim Stephens 0417 683 144