Will COVID-19 change our youth justice systems?

Description

Before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in Australia, more than half the number of children in custodial facilities were "on remand". This means they were unsentenced, awaiting the outcome of sentencing or other legal matters.However, recently published figures show a significant decrease in the number of children, particularly Indigenous children, remanded in custody since March 2020. This suggests the high rates of pre-COVID custodial youth remand were not necessary, and supports existing calls for a critical re-examination of our youth and adult justice systems.