Making Connections: Providing Family and Community Support to Young People in Custody

Background

Maintaining contact with family and community for young people in custody is vital. It can help to:

• reduce their sense of isolation
• reduce symptoms of depression
• improve emotional well-being

Maintaining connections helps with both rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society.

Where we inspected

We inspected two centres: Juniperina Juvenile Justice Centre and Reiby Juvenile Justice Centre.

• Juniperina is the only female-only centre in NSW
• Reiby accommodates younger boys aged 10–16 years old and boys with behavioural issues.

These centres were selected as they offered an overview of the types of issues faced by young people held in detention, who are often from a complex and disadvantaged background.

Recommendations

The Inspector makes 17 recommendations. These include systemic and facility specific improvements in:

• Telephone, video and physical visiting environments
• Family access for young people from regional areas
• Management of young mothers and their children
• Policies and procedures

Report

The Making Connections: Family and Community Support to Young People in Custody Report was tabled in parliament and published in June 2015.

Making Connections: Family and Community Support to Young People in Custody Report (PDF , 832.7 KB)

Reponses

Juvenile Justice response to Making Connections: Family and Community Support to Young People in Custody Report (PDF , 73.0 KB)