Australia's mandatory sentencing laws too quick to incarcerate juveniles

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• 10:50 a.m. on Oct. 29th, 2009

  Posted by

  nojaf

  I have a 14yr boy who in the past 2-4 months has been before a judge between 3 and 4 times for car theft also break and entering. Before my sons first facing of the judge I tried day and night for 1-2 months on the phone, email and searching many different ideas as to whom ever may be able to assist including many government, religious and many other organizations. My request was for some form of diversionary type program. Most of the answers were, "I'm sorry we have nothing to offer children in this age group" or "sorry if you don't live in our state or territory we can't take him on as for the different legislations" or "is he aboriginal?" Yes they have many options for him if he is Aboriginal... The final visit to the magistrate I requested if the lawyer and Juvenile Justice team member would mention to her if she could keep the curfue on him? Both replies were the same that she (the magistrate)doesn't like to keep curfue on kids..
  Well he was placed on an order that he report by phone to the Juvenile justice team, which was broken in the first week. My son also at this time was roaming the streets with a blanked off hand gun making threats of which came to the attention of the police. The police now have this gun in their possession. I haven't seen my son for 7 days tomorrow being Fri 30 oct 2009. I believe he has in this time created a problem for a local pilot where he and 2-4 Aboriginal boys of simular age terrorised this man with sticks at night while the man locked himself inside. I went to work this afternoon to be approached by a woman from a local community who was as pleasant as she could in making me know my son was going to be killed tonight by some boys from another close by community. I later found he and his Aboriginal mates had beaten up one of the boys from the community. I rang the Juvenile Justice team member approximately 10 minutes after being told of what my son may face tonight and informed her of this she had to talk to her boss to see what we could do as my request was to see if she could get him out of town as I was informed by her at the courts that with my son being on an order he wouldn't be able to leave town..My request was for him to be placed somewher out of this town..She advised me to ring the police..MMM They said they would go and have a talk with my son...So now I am waiting for the phone to ring or the tap on the door with the bad news...
  Gee why do I not I have a warm fuzzy feeling about the Australian justice system...I guess the magistrate realy likes her job!!!

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