FEBRUARY 2022

Hello, and welcome to another edition of the Worth A Second Chance bulletin — your regular source of stories, challenges and solutions from the frontlines of Australia's youth justice systems.

In this edition, we have an eye to the news, as media coverage grows of poor conditions, staff shortages and rolling lockdowns in youth prisons across the country. We're deeply concerned by reports of poor treatment, including the use of solitary confinement and spit hood restraints — but with practical changes to operating procedures, the vulnerable young people inside prisons could take account for their actions in a more rehabilitative and safe environment. Below, we spell out how reform can happen.

Also from us, there's a save the date for our first webinar of the year, and a look back at the story of Harry, a teenager who's rebuilding his life after homelessness and incarceration. Read on for those stories, and our regular recommended reading, watching and listening. 

In solidarity, from the Worth A Second Chance team.

Juvenile injustice 

Worth A Second Chance was pleased to be mentioned in this important and sobering Eureka Street article about the treatment of young people in prison and the complexity of their circumstances, by the lawyer-turned-priest Julian Butler.

Here, he argues we must look clearly at the evidence of what works and what doesn't, pay attention to the number of children in detention, and extend our empathy to young people whose complex lives don't necessarily reflect our own. How we treat the most vulnerable members of our society is the measure of who we are. 

The situation of almost any young person who spends time in incarceration is likely to be highly complex. The systemic responses to these individual challenges can all to easily go in the ‘too hard basket’. Youth justice issues have become a policy ‘third rail’, sensible reforms untouchable because of the easy tag of ‘soft on crime’ hurled by oppositions and sections of the media.

Unfolding coverage of trauma inside 

Media reports from Perth to Alice Springs to Darwin to Cairns have us deeply concerned about the state of Australia's youth justice and protection systems. Prisons must enable people to address their offending and get their lives back on track — yet poor treatment and conditions make rehabilitation difficult. 

No child should ever be subject to treatment like:

• Spending Christmas in solitary confinement, in a 42-degree Perth heatwave, deprived of exercise and education in a tiny "fishbowl" cell.
• Enduring hours alone in cells after COVID-19 cases and staff shortages forced facilities in Darwin and Alice Springs into lockdown. 
• The ongoing use of spit hoods, or mesh netting that obscure a child's face and head and make it difficult to breathe — which the Royal Commission has called "inhumane" and "distressing", and which the Northern Territory Government had previously pledged to ban. 
• Circumstances leading to self-harm and suicide attempts for young people involved with the youth protection system in Queensland.

We know prisons are home to some of our community's most traumatised and troubled young people. Youth prisons must be rehabilitative and appropriate spaces where young people can reflect on their behaviour, and make changes to their lives that put them on a different path. Our practical ideas for reform could make that possible.

'I want a normal life': Harry's story

Harry found himself homeless at 14, and hasn't had a good relationship with his family. He made some bad decisions, and found himself in prison — alongside adults, alone, and frightened.

But since leaving prison, he's worked hard to get his life back on track. When we spoke to Harry, he told us he's finishing Year 12, and is learning how to cook; he loves spaghetti and burgers. One day, he'd like to be a youth worker, and help other people in trouble.

The friends I used to hang out with basically all of them are locked up because, probably, they didn’t get the support they needed. If you’re homeless you’re just going to steal shit… young people need support and housing. 

Read — Police are still using spit hoods and restraint chairs on children in the NT

Vice Australia reports on new data that shows Territory police are restraining kids as young as 12, using practices the government previously promised to ban, which Aboriginal advocates tell the website is a consequence of ongoing, systemic racism.

Watch — The Logan Project

A two-part documentary from NITV following singers and musicians in the troubled Queensland suburb as they chart a new, positive narrative for their home, away from the old headlines of racism and violence.

Listen — How Isaiah survived Australia's juvenile justice system

Guardian Australia revisits one of its best Full Story podcast episodes of 2021 in this story of a Dunghutti man who uses his childhood experience in the justice system to advocate for change for First Nations children. 

Everyone has a role to play in delivering a better youth justice system and helping kids in trouble. We've got some simple ways to be involved in this work.

Join an event

In March, our popular Worth A Second Chance webinar series will return. Our first event focuses on how education can act as a pathway out of the justice system — and what needs to change to best meet the needs of young people and their communities. We'll be in touch in a couple of weeks' time with your invitation, or you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter to hear the news first. 

Ask your MP to #RaiseTheAge

Together, we've sent 1,465 emails to MPs asking our leaders to raise the age of criminal responsibility using our simple email template. Emailing your MP will take just one minute, and helps show our leaders just how many people want compassionate reform that keeps people accountable to their actions, without locking children up.

Start a conversation

We've developed resources to help you gather together friends and family for a casual conversation about the people who have helped us when we've been in trouble, and how our youth justice system could be made more compassionate and supportive. For a free Kitchen Table Conversation toolkit for home or work, email Sophie at sophie.raynor@jss.org.au.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Worth A Second Chance — a community campaign to see real justice for young people facing trouble. Have a safe and peaceful month, and see you next time.