Key changes to sentencing children reflected in updated guide

The Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council has released an updated Guide to the Sentencing of Children in Queensland. This comprehensive guide reflects recent legislative amendments and includes new content aimed at informing the public about key principles and factors that guide courts in sentencing children in Queensland as well as available sentencing options.

The updated guide includes new legal terms such as ‘prescribed indictable offence’ and other key definitions.

Updates reflecting changes made to the Youth Justice Act 1992 (Qld) include the introduction of a new ‘serious repeat offender’ declaration scheme which means, when made, courts must prioritise principles such as a need to protect members of the community and the nature and extent of any violence used by the child in committing the offence when deciding the sentence.

The guide also includes expanded information on sentencing orders and penalties, such as what it means for an offence to be ‘particularly heinous’, changes made to the maximum duration of a conditional release order, and information about other types of orders including compensation orders against parents, and protection orders for domestic violence offences.

The guide’s revision ensures it remains a valuable resource for those who are interested in youth justice.

“The updated guide is a crucial tool in understanding the complexities of youth justice in Queensland,” said Ann Lyons, Chair of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council. “By making this information accessible, we aim to educate and inform the public, fostering a more informed community dialogue around the sentencing of children and young people.”

The updated Guide to the Sentencing of Children in Queensland (2nd edition) is now available for download on the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council’s website.

For more information please contact:
Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council – Media Team 0459 887 077

About the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council:
The Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council provides independent research and advice, aims to inform and educate the public, and promotes consistency in sentencing. The Council’s work supports the development of a fair and balanced criminal justice system in Queensland.

For further details and updates, please visit our website: https://www.sentencingcouncil.qld.gov.au/