The Victorian government's failure to mitigate, let alone solve, the protracted crisis in the juvenile detention system is appalling. It is all the more disgraceful in light of evidence the government has been repeatedly warned about the situation.
Our special investigation, published today, as well as our exclusive report earlier in the week that the government concealed a May 2016 report into the system's manifold problems, reveal the extent of the Andrews administration's incompetence. Citizens are right to feel angry, and would be reasonable to wreak electoral retribution. Community concern and even fury has also been fuelled in recent days by yet another riot in a youth detention centre, and by an alleged spree of serious crime by several of the 15 inmates who escaped in the riot.
The situation has elicited populist, lightweight calls to get "tough on crime". But this is a multifarious public policy issue that requires resources and insight, rather than some nebulous "hardening up". Yes, of course serious crimes committed by minors, particularly recidivists, require serious punishment. However, problems with the system extend far beyond the need to do that. And the government knows it. It was warned months ago in a secret report it commissioned after riots at the Parkville centre early last year. The report detailed the depth and breadth of the dysfunction, and warned of more strife and that staff and prisoners were at risk of harm. So, too, this week's events have shockingly shown, are members of the community.
So, what to do? We can understand calls for Youth Affairs Minister Jenny Mikakos to be sacked, and she is indeed a lacklustre performer generally, but holding her solely accountable for long-standing systemic failure is not a solution. We think, though, the government should consider moving responsibility for youth justice centres to the Department of Corrections from the Department of Human Services. But that, too, won't in itself solve anything. The two most fundamental changes required are building proper centres that have adequate high-security sections for recidivists who commit violence and other serious crimes, and then staffing them properly. Failure to have sufficient numbers of properly trained staff has led to ridiculous overuse of solitary confinement, which has only served to inflame the situation.
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As we have stressed in recent months, a guiding principle is that no child should be shifted into the adult prison system. This is not a so-called "bleeding heart" position, it's pragmatic; placing children, even those who've committed heinous crimes, with adult criminals severely undermines any prospect of rehabilitation, and thus worsens the risks to society.
Perspective is crucial; a situation of this nature can spark unduly deep and widespread fear, and inappropriately extreme policy reactions. Crime Statistics Agency data evidences a significant drop during the past five years in the number of crimes committed by 10-17 year olds and the number of offenders in that age bracket. What has risen sharply is the number of violent crimes. These are being committed by a small number of repeat offenders, a hardcore group of a few hundred, including members of gangs.
The government yesterday moved to cauterise the crisis by announcing guards from adult prisons will be brought in to control youth offenders in the Malmsbury youth detention centre near Castlemaine, where the latest riot and breakout occurred, and at the Parkville centre, where there have been many recent riots.
Premier Daniel Andrews concedes a purpose-built centre is long-overdue. It is indeed. Get on with it.
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