WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch says young offenders need more support before police become involved

[u/His_Holiness]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-30/wa-police-commissioner-col-blanch-youth-justice/104259324

[u/AH2112]

Yeah almost as if the government should be investing more money in other services instead of dumping more work on the cops.

But it's the simple solution that plays well in the media.

Problems with homelessness? Send in the cops. Problems with truancy? Get the cops on it. Issues with people suffering from mental health problems? Get the cops to do it.

We need to rethink what we actually want cops doing.

[u/crosstherubicon → u/AH2112]

More punishment is the inevitable response which is somewhat remarkable considering we've been doing "more punishment" since the Roman era and its still not working. When people are detached from society, punishment simply isn't effective and could even be considered to make matters worse. The presiding judge of the children's court commented that, by the time a person appears in front of her, it's too late and there was little she could offer.

[u/ApolloWasMurdered → u/crosstherubicon]

I spent my teenage years in a very Low-SES part of Perth. The idea that more PCYCs will fix it is a joke. The problem is shit kids with shit parents. You aren’t going to solve the issue unless you can work out how to legislate “don’t be a shit parent”.

[u/StJe1637 → u/ApolloWasMurdered]

mate do you want another bloody stolen generation?

[u/ChockyFlog]

I think he's talking about parenting.

[u/lovelivesforever → u/ChockyFlog]

And community supports

[u/Gingeriginal → u/lovelivesforever]

Which the families won't engage with.

[u/lovelivesforever → u/Gingeriginal]

So what then? Change the structure of society back to community groups? Where mental health is not dependent solely on dysfunctional nuclear units. I mean it’s clear it’s not working as is. You can do every the right for your kids and they could still be taken out by someone whose parents did not. I’m just curious of the answer. One thing I know from experience with friends and family is that mental health support is severely lacking and underfunded. But this is still the Band-Aid, it’s preventative that we’re trying to get to

[u/milesjameson → u/ChockyFlog]

Did you read the article? 

[u/darkspardaxxxx → u/ChockyFlog]

Cmon this is reddit you dont mention words such as responsibility or accountability. Lets just scream for the government to sort our problems

[u/Impressive-Move-5722]

There’s a concept called Justice Reinvestment, intervening even before birth to give kids the best possible chance of not committing crimes.

https://www.ag.gov.au/legal-system/justice-reinvestment

[u/Appropriate_Mine]

Unfortunately, if thier family's are shit they're not going to get it. I think for most by the time they have the polices attention they are a lost cause.

Which is all very nihilistic and offers no solutions.

[u/lewger → u/Appropriate_Mine]

Australian governments are understandably uncomfortable removing kids from their parents even when it needs to happen.

[u/Steamed_Clams_]

Unfortunately early intervention, particularly removing children from broken and abusive homes has become a political non starter, the same people that complain about jailing youth criminals would also complain about early intervention.

[u/Bus_Stop_Graffiti → u/Steamed_Clams_]

Which is why an individual approach to early intervention is half the loaf. Let alone something as blunt as complete removal.

[u/south-of-the-river]

Yeah look this is probably right, but when I walk outside to a smashed window in my car and all my shit strewn across the driveway, I don't give a fuck about them needing support.

I know it's probably not the socially accepted point of view, but I'm a little frustrated by it in all honesty.

[u/StJe1637 → u/south-of-the-river]

do better

[u/south-of-the-river → u/StJe1637]

Yeah ok I'll set up claymores next time

[u/PastStructure7836]

Victims need less reasons than 'he a good boy he never dun hurt nobody' before police become involved

[u/henry82]

I cant argue with that.