To kick off Victoria's first ever Youth Week the Andrews
Government has announced more police resources to help throw young
people in prison.
The establishment of Youth Specialist Officers within Victoria
Police is not an intervention designed to reduce offending amongst
young people (
which is declining anyway), but to sure up the Victorian
government's 'tough on crime' credentials in the lead
up to the November election.
There is a reason why criminologists and policy experts
recommend a 'soft' approach on youth offending rather than
the classic 'lock em up' narrative we often see pushed in
the media: it works.
Prison Causes Crime
Whilst the media narrative calls for young offenders to get a
good kick up the backside via a stint in prison in order to change
their ways, the evidence indicates the exact opposite.
