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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/18/nsw-youth-detention-children-custody-bail-laws-bocsar-data-ntwnfb>
"Children are increasingly being held in youth detention after being refused
bail in New South Wales, according to new data, as experts warn locking up more
young people will not curb crime.
The data released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (Bocsar)
found 225 young people were in custody in December 2024 – up 54 on the year
before. The number of young Indigenous Australians in youth detention increased
by almost 22% to 129.
The executive director of Bocsar, Jackie Fitzgerald, said the 32% overall
increase in the youth custody population was the result of more young people
being held on remand after an “increase in the severity of bail decisions”.
“What we can see is that over the past year the remand rate has increased
across a whole range of offences, not just car theft and break in, but assault
charges too,” Fitzgerald said.
According to the latest crime statistics from Bocsar for last year, youth crime
rates remained steady, with only a slight uptick in shoplifting offences.
The NSW government will this week seek to extend controversial laws until 2028
that make it harder for children to get bail. One influential independent MP
told
Guardian Australia he will support the extension of the laws, but does
not think it is the solution.
“It’s not actually going to change the long-term outcomes for communities or
for people,” said Roy Butler, a former police administrator and the independent
MP for Barwon, which takes in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the
state."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
