Victoria Police is expanding a cautioning program aimed at diverting young Aboriginal people away from the criminal justice system.
The expansion follows a successful trial in Bendigo, Echuca and Greater Dandenong which began in 2019. It has resulted in a significant increase in the number of young Aboriginal people diverted from the courts and improved links with support services.
The program will be rolled out to an additional 11 areas, identified in consultation with the Aboriginal community. These are:
Bairnsdale
Footscray
Shepparton
Ballarat
Horsham
Swan Hill
Darebin
Mildura
Wodonga
Fawkner
Morwell
The expansion coincides with changes to Victoria Police policy that give police greater opportunity to issue cautions to young people wherever appropriate. Officers can now issue a caution even if a young person does not admit the offence or provides a no-comment interview. The young person only needs to consent to being issued with a caution and having a prior criminal history doesn't exclude a young person being eligible for a caution.
Aboriginal young people who are issued with a caution can opt to participate in the Aboriginal Youth Caution Program and go before a panel of Aboriginal community leaders to discuss what support they need. Victoria Police Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers will also assist. The program has so far resulted in increased school attendance and young people engaging in Aboriginal cultural activities and community events alongside police including the Massive Murray Paddle.
Quotes attributable to Chief Commissioner Shane Patton
"Young Aboriginal people are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system and police can play a role in addressing this.
"A criminal record can seriously impact a young person for the rest of their life. That's why we want to issue cautions, not charges, where appropriate to help them get back on track.
"We know diverting young people away from the courts reduces the likelihood they'll commit crime in the future. It's not just in their interest, it's in the community's interest.
"This is by no means about going soft on crime. Our priority will always be to ensure community safety and we will continue to hold offenders who commit serious crimes to account."
