Aboriginal youth could be silent victims in mandatory sentencing
We take a look at the proposed expansion of WA’s tough mandatory sentencing laws. Some fear the changes will spark a jump in the number of Aboriginal children in detention, and will do nothing to break the cycle of youth offending.
Human rights advocates say they’re alarmed by the Barnett Government’s plan to extend mandatory sentencing laws. The raft of changes would make it possible for kids as young as 11 to be put in detention for 2 years. Amnesty International says the laws are discriminatory and that they will essentially target the most vulnerable – Aboriginal children from remote areas with limited access to services. WA has the highest incarceration rate for Aboriginal youth in the country, and it’s also the only state to have mandatory sentencing laws for children.