Support Services and Programs

Young people on youth justice court orders are characterised by higher rates of psychiatric illness, substance abuse and learning difficulties than the general population. Poverty, low educational attainment, unemployment, history of family breakdown and higher representation of rural youth feature consistently in the youth justice profile. Many are prone to self-harm and substance abuse or have themselves been victims of violence or crime.

This group represents some of the most disadvantaged young people in our community. The youth justice system cannot address youth crime in isolation from other systems such as welfare, drug and alcohol, housing, mental health, education and employment.

Client service plan

A client service plan is developed for every young person on an order, both in the community and in custody, and is reviewed regularly. The key objective of the CSP is to change the offending pattern of behaviour and stop the progression of the young person into the criminal justice system.

Support and diversion programs

Youth Justice Koori Programs provide support and supervision to young Aboriginal people on community-based orders and in custody. Operated by local Aboriginal agencies, they provide programs aimed at preventing offending or re-offending behaviour through strengthening positive role modelling for young Aboriginal people.

The Youth Justice Community Support Service (YJCSS), (formerly known as the Youth Justice Service Delivery Model) is an integrated approach to the provision of intensive support and services to Youth Justice clients to complement the statutory case management undertaken by Youth Justice units. The service has been developed recognising that Youth Justice clients present with a range of complex and varied needs that require an individualised service response.

The Youth Justice Court Advice Service (YJCAS) is a specialised youth focused service provided by the Department of Human Services Youth Justice program for young people between 18 and 20 years of age who are appearing in the Magistrates, County or Supreme courts in relation to criminal matters. The primary focus of YJCAS is the diversion of young offenders from the adult criminal justice system, where appropriate.

The Central After Hours and Bail Placement Service (CAHABPS) is a state wide after hours service available to young people aged between 10 and 18 years. The service may be utilised voluntarily by any young person being considered for remand by police or where bail accommodation may be required.

Yanninbal Youth Justice Koori Visitors Program program is a Koori visitors program for young Aboriginal people in Victoria’s Youth Justice custodial centres. The Yannabil visitors are Koori community members. The visitors will help to make sure that young Aboriginal people are safe and well in custody.

Health and rehabilitation

• The Adolescent Forensic Health Service (Centre for Adolescent Health) provides a comprehensive range of health services to young people in the youth justice system.
• The Male Adolescent Program for Positive Sexuality (MAPPS) is an intensive group treatment program for adolescent males supervised by youth justice who have been found guilty of a sexual offence.

Education, employment and training

• TAFE campuses are established within youth justice centres to provide a broad range of vocational and educational programs and linkages to the community.
• Hand Brake Turn is a key crime prevention strategy designed to minimise the incidence of motor vehicle offences by young people. It is specifically targeted to those young people who have been charged or cautioned by the police and those at risk of offending.

Leisure and recreation

YMCA campuses are established within youth justice centres to provide a broad range of recreational programs and linkages to the community.

Additional information