The Victorian Government has just announced new reforms that mean children as young as 14 could be tried in adult courts and even face life sentences for violent crimes. It sounds tough, and that’s the point. This is to show the public that the government is cracking down.

But if you work with young people, or understand how trauma and brain development shape behaviour, this move feels like a step backwards. It is a response driven by fear, not by evidence.

What’s changing

Under these reforms, 14 to 17-year-olds who commit serious violent offences, things like aggravated home invasion, carjacking or causing serious injury, could be charged as adults and sentenced under adult law. The government says it’s about accountability and community safety.

But let’s be honest: treating children like adults does not make our communities safer. It just means more young people end up in systems that were never built for them. Systems that we know cause further harm and institutionalise people into a life of crime.

Why communities are frustrated

There is no denying that violent incidents involving young people have shaken communities. Some of those events are terrifying and cause real harm. When people see headlines about machete attacks or home invasions, it’s natural to want strong action.

The challenge is that these reforms focus on punishment over prevention. They might look like a solution but decades of research tell us otherwise.

What the evidence actually says

We have known for a long time that detention does not rehabilitate. Putting children in jail often makes things worse.

Young people in detention are more likely to re-offend than those who get community-based interventions.

Most have lived through trauma, abuse, neglect or social isolation and disadvantage long before they ever committed a crime.

Many have learning difficulties, disabilities, or have spent time in out-of-home care.

Locking them up does not fix those things. It usually adds new trauma, isolation, violence and shame. Detention rips them even further from education, family and community supports that could actually help them change.

And let’s not forget: First Nations young people will be hit hardest by this, who have already been over-policed and over-represented in custody for generations.

What real accountability looks like

Accountability shouldn’t mean punishment for punishment’s sake. It should mean giving young people the chance to understand the harm they have caused, make amends, and build the skills they need to live differently.

That’s what restorative, trauma-informed, community-based approaches do — and they work.

• They keep young people connected to school and other supports.
• They address criminogenic needs.
• They rebuild relationships.
• And they actually make communities safer.

We can choose a better path

Everyone deserves to feel safe. But safer communities don’t come from harsher laws; they come from smarter, more compassionate systems.

When a 14-year-old commits a violent act, our first question shouldn’t be, “How do we punish them like an adult?” It should be, “What’s happened in their life that’s brought them here and how do we stop it happening again?”

If Victoria is serious about reducing violence, we need to invest in early intervention, family support, culturally safe services and trauma recovery, not reopening closed Youth Justice Precincts.

These reforms might make good headlines, but they won’t deliver what we all want. Evidence, not fear, should drive youth justice reform. Because when we respond to pain with punishment instead of understanding, we just create more pain.

Want to explore the research?

The Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic care has authored a research brief and hosted an expert panel exploring the criminalisation of children in care. Follow the links below to find out more.

https://learn.childhood.org.au/care-criminalisation-issues-and-current-research-research-brief/

https://learn.childhood.org.au/when-systems-designed-to-protect-do-harm/