• Studies show that early contact with the justice system, particularly before the age of 14, acts as a "catalyst" for further criminal involvement and poor adult health.  UNSW +1
   
• Mental Health and Well-being: Children in detention often enter with pre-existing trauma or disabilities, which are frequently worsened by the incarceration environment.  University of Wollongong – UOW
• Psychiatric Disorders: Between 83% and 88% of young people in custody have a psychological disorder
• Hospitalization Risk: Youth aged 14–17 placed in custody are hospitalized for psychiatric reasons at significantly higher rates than older peers aged 18 and above.
• Suicidality: Individuals first incarcerated as children (under age 14) report adult suicidality rates of 28.1%, nearly triple the rate of those never incarcerated (10.1%)
• Long-term Health: Any length of incarceration during adolescence is associated with worse general health, functional limitations (like difficulty climbing stairs), and obesity in adulthood.  The Sentencing Project +4
• Recidivism and Future Justice Involvement
  Incarceration generally fails as a deterrent for youth and instead increases the likelihood of future offending.  The Sentencing Project.
  Adult Incarceration: Children incarcerated during adolescence face a fivefold increase in the risk of being incarcerated as an adult.
  Recidivism Rates: In some regions, up to 49% of custody-supervised youth reoffend within 12 months of release.
  Early Onset: Conviction before age 14 significantly increases the likelihood of entering the adult prison system later in life.  UNSW +1

Treating children who commit offences the same way we treat adults, does not make our communities safer. Instead, it increases the likelihood that young offenders will grow into adult criminals. Evidence clearly shows that youth offending is strongly connected to trauma and disadvantage - including poverty, poor physical and mental health, limited education, and unmet support needs. Many young people who come into contact with the justice system are also victims of abuse and neglect. First Nations children, those from disadvantaged backgrounds, children in out-of-home care, and children with disabilities are particularly harmed  by harsh, punitive policies. Placing children in detention or other institutional settings during their formative years is a major factor contributing to ongoing patterns of offending. Surely, we can find better solutions than simply locking children away and ignoring the underlying issues. Australia already has a troubling history of detaining children who have not been found guilty. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2023-24, four out of five (80%) children held in detention on an average day were unsentenced - meaning their alleged involvement in a crime had not yet been proven in court. The National Children's Commissioner, and the Law Council of Australia, call for a nationally coordinated child justice approach. We believe Queensland’s response to youth offending should help children, not perpetuate harm.

Request: We therefore ask the House to urge the Queensland Premier to rescind the harmful and ineffective "Adult Crime, Adult Time" legislation and to commit instead to policies that reflect compassion, evidence, and fairness.