Carnarvon Youth Justice Services centre opens, Redman
Author: Terry Redman
Published on: 07-November-2011
jA new centre solely dedicated to youth justice issues in the Mid-West Gascoyne region was today officially opened in Carnarvon by Mining and Pastoral MLC Wendy Duncan on behalf of Corrective Services Minister Terry Redman.
The region’s Youth Justice Services was launched in 2008, but has until now shared facilities with the branch of the Department of Corrective Services which manages adult offenders.
Mr Redman said the physical separation represented a deliberate philosophical difference in the approach to youth justice issues compared with adult corrective services.
The Minister said the Youth Justice Services were founded on evidence that intervening early in a young person’s development could produce significant long-term benefits for the individual and the community.
“The Regional Youth Justice Services work with families and young people to prevent them from entering the formal justice system and divert at-risk youth away from a life of crime,” he said.
“The opening of this office in Carnarvon is another step towards building safer communities and stronger families as well as creating better life opportunities for young people in regional Western Australia.”
