Understanding Remand in the Juvenile Justice System in Queensland
Professor Paul Mazerolle and Dr Jennifer Sanderson.
Read the disclaimer to this report
Background to the research
The Department of Communities is committed to providing high quality evidence based youth justice services. In meeting this commitment we undertake ongoing research and data analysis to ensure that the system is functioning efficiently, safely and in the best interests of the community.
One research project commissioned by the department recently aimed to identify the factors leading to the high rates of remand in custody in Queensland juvenile detention facilities. The remand rate is the percentage of the total number of detained young people who are on remand. The remainder of the youth detention population comprises those young people who are serving a court ordered detention sentence.
Professor Paul Mazerolle and Dr Jennifer Sanderson from Griffith University completed an analysis of the issues impacting on youth remand rates, including a literature review, cross-jurisdictional analysis, interviews with professionals who work in the youth justice system, review of a sample of case files and quantitative analysis of departmental youth justice data.
The report provides some useful insights into remand rates and highlights some possible solutions. Although it forms only one source of information to assist decision making, the report findings continue to inform departmental responses to the issue of remand numbers in youth detention centres in Queensland.
Department of Communities response to the report
The Department of Communities notes the findings of the report and the 15 recommendations made by the researchers. A number of initiatives have been implemented in recent times to address the issue of high remand rates, including:
- Increased monitoring and 'spotlighting' of the issue of remand, including greater understanding of the high costs and negative impacts of remand by key stakeholders;
- Commencement of the Young Offender Community Response Service and Bail Support Service in Far North Queensland;
- Increased Youth Justice Case Worker numbers to reduce case loads and service pressures caused by the increasingly complex needs of young people on youth justice orders. This includes meeting the needs of young people and the community in supporting conditional bail where appropriate; and
- Consideration of strategies to manage demand for youth justice services.
Click here for a summary of the 15 recommendations made in the report, including departmental responses.
Recent changes in remand rates
Data indicates that these responses have led to some early gains in tackling youth remand rates. Since the report was finalised Department of Communities 2007-08 data has become available. Comparisons between current data and the data presented in the report show some positive gains in reducing remand:
- The rate of detained young people who are on remand decreased from 67.8% in October 2007 to 55% in October 2008. Remand rates of below 60% have not been seen in Queensland youth detention facilities since mid 2005. From March 2005 to March 2008 remand rates were consistently between 65% and 75%, peaking at 78% in February 2007.
- The rate of Indigenous young people receiving remand at a remand decision event has dropped from an average of 62.8% between 2002 and 2007 to 58.1% in 2007-08.
- The proportion of remand decision events resulting in remand decreased to a five year low in 2006-07 and remained at this record low in 2007-08. This means that the likelihood of young people receiving remand decreased.
While it is too early to conclude that these reductions in remand rates are part of an ongoing trend, they do indicate positive results from recent initiatives in reducing youth remand rates in Queensland. There is still a long way to go to ensure long term, sustainable reductions in remand that will bring Queensland's rates of youth remand in custody in line with those of other jurisdictions.
Next steps for the Department
- Whilst future investment in youth justice services is dependent on the availability of funding, the department is considering evidence based initiatives to build on those already funded. This includes:
- exploring further strategies to divert young people from remand where appropriate; and
- considering therapeutic models to address the increasingly complex needs of young people at risk of entering the system.
- Ongoing collaboration with key partner agencies, including the Department of Child Safety, Queensland Police Service, Department of Justice and Attorney-General and legal representatives in continuing to develop an integrated approach to reducing juvenile remand.
- Continued development of strategies to address the over-representation of Indigenous young people remanded in custody.
- Continued consultation and information sharing with the non-government sector to identify issues and working towards solutions.
- Ongoing monitoring of remand rates to see how we are tracking.
Disclaimer
This report is copyright and must not be reproduced without express permission from the Department of Communities.
The Department of Communities expressly disclaims all and any liability and responsibility whatsoever to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done by such person in reliance, whether wholly or partially, upon the data and information.
The data and information includes the views or recommendations of third parties, which do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Communities, or indicate its commitment to a particular course of action.
Full report
Individual Chapters
- Table of contents
- Chapter 1 - Understanding remand within the juvenile justice system
- Chapter 2 - Views emerging from project consultations
- Chapter 3 - An examination of young offender case files
- Chapter 4 - Examining trends and patterns of juvenile remand in QLD
- Chapter 5 - Discussion and recommendations and references
- Appendix