Researchers at Monash University’s Criminal Justice Research Consortium, in collaboration with Dr Nina Papalia from the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne University of Technology, conducted a study funded by the Australian Institute of Criminology. The study provides robust data on 10- to 13-year-old children with offending behavior, highlighting their high rates of early adversity, trauma, educational exclusion, and unmet mental health and disability-related needs.
The research suggests that justice reinvestment towards trauma-informed approaches and a diversionary multidisciplinary case management service could better support these children. The study emphasises the importance of raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility and using child justice responses as a last resort, aligning with international human rights recommendations.
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