Youth crime has become an increasingly significant concern to Queenslanders over recent months. Frequent reports of break ins, assault, car theft and vandalism have sparked conversations about the need to dedicate resources to solving this complex problem.
Unfortunately, the question of who can take the reins on the issue and how to go about it hasn’t been easy to answer. One thing we do know at Articulous, is that community engagement can always be employed to gauge perspectives on the issues that are front of mind.
Is youth crime on the rise?
With multiple reports of youth crime cases spotlighted in the media, it is easy to conclude that youth crime is on the rise. However, the statistics say otherwise. In recent months, youth crime has seen a steady decline. During the 2023-2024 financial year, the Queensland Police Service reported a 2% decline in the number of child offenders.
Regardless, the community remains uneasy. Despite the decrease in child offenders, a small group of serious repeat offenders have caused mounting anxiety in the community. Victims of youth crime say that statistics don’t mean anything when dealing with the effects of the crime.
Finding the root cause
Awareness of the root causes of youth crime can help us to navigate how to properly engage with young people to reduce their willingness to offend. Childhood exposure to violence, abuse from parents or guardians, parental substance abuse, unstable housing and undiagnosed physical or mental disabilities are all shown to correlate with an increased likelihood of engaging in criminal activity.
A strategy for good!
Appropriate community engagement can contribute to relieving the pressure of nominating a single solution for a complex social issue. Considering the evolving nature of youth crime, it is important to understand the community’s general sentiment and perspective to assist with identifying an optimal approach.
Every Queenslander has the right to feel safe and consulting the community can play a significant role in safeguarding that fundamental fact. At Articulous, we assist in creating strategies to manage difficult social issues such as youth crime. ‘A Safer Queensland’ Queensland Youth Justice Strategy 2024-2028 produced by the Department of Youth Justice with support from Articulous is one such strategy intended to address youth crime in the community. Developing this strategy involved gathering evidence and conducting evaluations that revealed the viewpoints of young people, victims, experts, government departments and the community as a whole.
Shared responsibility
Youth crime is a shared responsibility, and with the right guidance, communities can turn the tide and empower their young people to pursue a brighter future. As leaders in the community engagement sphere, we hope to contribute to tackling this matter effectively, with all social implications front of mind.
