Queensland concedes law imposing mandatory jail on some offenders as young as 10 breaches human rights
The Queensland government has admitted that its new 'breach bail, go to jail' legislation for offenders as young as 10 violates human rights. The policy, intended to crack down on crime, faces criticism for potentially causing severe outcomes and exacerbating prison overcrowding.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing tension between aggressive 'law and order' political agendas and the protection of human rights for minors in the justice system.
The Queensland premier David Crisafulli declared the legislation would give Queensland ‘the strongest bail laws in the country’. Photograph: Darren England/AAP The Queensland premier David Crisafulli declared the legislation would give Queensland ‘the strongest bail laws in the country’. Photograph: Darren England/AAP Queensland Queensland concedes law imposing mandatory jail on some offenders as young as 10 breaches human rights State government says ‘breach bail, go to jail’ laws raise risk of overcrowding in jails, while one expert warns they may lead to ‘cruel outcomes’
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Prefer the Guardian on Google The Queensland government’s latest law and order crackdown – subjecting some children as young as 10 to a mandatory sentence of a year behind bars – could lead to “cruel outcomes”, according to human rights lawyers.
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