Custodial Services

Youth Justice centres

Youth Justice centres supervise young people aged 10 to 18 on remand or a custodial order from the Children's Court. Young people 18 years and above are remanded by adult courts to prison under the sentencing Act 1991.

Victoria has three Youth Justice/Youth Residential Centres for young people aged between 10 and 20 sentenced by either the children's or adult courts to a youth residential or youth justice centre order.

• Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre is a custodial facility for up to90 young men primarily aged 18 to 20 years who have been sentenced to a youth training centre order by the Magistrates, County or Supreme Court.
• Melbourne Youth Justice Centre is a custodial facility for up to83 young men aged 15 to 18 years, who are either on remand or serving a custodial sentence, generally from the Children's Court.
• Parkville Youth Residential Centre is the sole facility providing custodial accommodation for girls and young women aged 10 to 20 who have been sentenced by either the Children's Court or an adult court. The centre also accommodates boys aged 10 to 14 years on remand or sentenced by the Children's Court to a youth residential order. The centre has 35 beds.

Victoria is unique in Australia in having a 'dual track' custodial sentencing option for young people aged 18 to 20 years who are dealt with by adult courts - known as the Senior Youth Justice Centre system. this is designed to provide an alternative to prison and prevent early entry into the adult system for the more vulnerable and lower risk offenders.

• A young person on Remand is held in custody while waiting for their court case after they have been charged with offences.
• Youth residential order sentences a young person aged between 10 and 14 to a period in custody in a youth residential centre.
• Youth justice centre order sentences a young person aged between 15 and 20 to a period in custody in a youth justice centre.

Additional information can be found at: Youth Justice Custodial Services Branch.

Standards to guide the delivery of services in Juvenile Justice Custodial Centres

These standards aim to provide a framework for the delivery of services to ensure that each client who comes into contact with the Youth Justice custodial system is provided with a minimum standard of service, and that their successful return to the community is the primary goal.

The standards are designed to operate in conjunction with the Youth Justice centre operations manual in governing and setting benchmarks for all aspects of practice within the centres.