Young detainees often have poor mental health. The earlier they’re incarcerated, the worse it gets
- Written by Emaediong I. Akpanekpo, PhD Candidate, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney
Populist rhetoric targeting young offenders often leads to kneejerk punitive responses, such as stricter bail laws and lowering the age of criminal responsibility. This, in turn, has led to more young people being held in detention.
In Australia, the number of young people held in detention facilities increased by 8% (from 784 to 845) between the...
