NCJ Number
140935
Journal
Criminology Australia Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (July-August 1992) Pages: 8-10
Editor(s)
A Grant,
M Thompson
Date Published
1992
Length
3 pages
Annotation
South Australia was the first Commonwealth State to adopt justice-based legislation for juvenile offenders through passage of the Children's Protection and Young Offenders Act in 1979.
Abstract
This statute separated children's justice and welfare matters, created a two-tiered level of operation, accorded children the same legal rights as adults, established a determinate sentencing scheme, and allowed for certain serious offenses to be transferred to adult criminal court. The components of the South Australian juvenile justice system include screening panels which determine the appropriate forum for hearing complaints against young offenders, children's aid panels which discusses the child's offense with his parent or guardian, and the Children's Court which deals with more serious offenses. The range of sentencing options available to a Children's Court magistrate include detention, community service, order, bond with or without conditions, fine, educational or recreational program orders, or discharge. Family and Community Services operates several programs as alternatives to detention. Recently, the South Australian juvenile justice system has placed particular emphasis on changing the overrepresentation of aboriginal offenders in the system and on providing additional services to young offenders and adolescents at risk.