Persistent offenders are a minority of youth offenders, but they are responsible for a disproportionate amount of offences. There is little research into the issue of young people reoffending in adulthood, but one study showed that an earlier age of onset offending is related to a higher risk of recidivism. ******************************* Sentencing laws across Australia impose reasonably consistent obligations on judicial officers. Broadly speaking, the same obligations apply nationally when sentencing children and young offenders. If I take the Victorian Children Youth and Families Act as an example, there are a number of essential things that a judge or magistrate must consider in the sentencing process when dealing with children and young offenders. Broadly speaking they are: the need to strengthen and preserve the relationship between the child and the child’s family; the desirability of allowing the child to live at home and allowing the child’s education, training or employment to continue without interruption or disturbance; the need to minimise the stigma;
Persistent offenders are a minority of youth offenders, but they are responsible for a disproportionate amount of offences. There is little research into the issue of young people reoffending in adulthood, but one study showed that an earlier age of onset offending is related to a higher risk of recidivism. ******************************* Sentencing laws across Australia impose reasonably consistent obligations on judicial officers. Broadly speaking, the same obligations apply nationally when sentencing children and young offenders. If I take the Victorian Children Youth and Families Act as an example, there are a number of essential things that a judge or magistrate must consider in the sentencing process when dealing with children and young offenders. Broadly speaking they are: the need to strengthen and preserve the relationship between the child and the child’s family; the desirability of allowing the child to live at home and allowing the child’s education, training or employment to continue without interruption or disturbance; the need to minimise the stigma;