Youth Justice
The youth justice program is administered by the Department of Human Services and provides services to statutory clients (between 10-20 years old) on community based and custodial court orders, as well as to young people on remand in youth justice centres.
The youth justice system places emphasis on diversion and rehabilitation of young people in order to prevent them from progressing further into the criminal justice system.
The youth justice program has two key areas: youth justice custodial centres and youth justice units.
Youth justice centres
Victoria has three youth justice centres for young offenders aged between 10 and 18 years remanded or sentenced by the Children's Court and aged 18 to 20 sentenced by an adult court.
These are:
- Parkville Youth Residential Centre
- Melbourne Youth Justice Centre
- Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre
Youth justice centres provide a secure environment in which young offenders can work through issues they are facing and address their offending behaviour.
Youth justice units
Youth justice units are a highly effective means of providing support and supervision to young people on community-based orders and represent a realistic alternative to custodial detention.