A mum from regional Victoria has stated that the state government's proposed changes to strengthen bail regulations Could assist in saving her son's life.
Amy*—not her actual name—mentioned that she hasn’t gotten any sleep for half a year, constantly awaiting a tap at her door to be informed about some harm or an even grimmer fate that might have come upon her 15-year-old boy.
She mentioned that her son began associating with "experienced criminal adults" roughly a year ago, and since then, he has become unrecognizable.
She stated that the legal system had failed her family.
"Amy mentioned that he has received numerous warnings and charges, and has been released on bail five times," she stated.
These grown-ups understood that the bail terms he was facing held little weight — there were no repercussions.
Consequently, his criminal behavior has increasingly become more serious.
The sole thing capable of rescuing him
Even though she dreads seeing her son incarcerated, Amy believes it might be the only way to help him.
“If we could tighten up this bail act somewhat, and he has to face the repercussions, perhaps he’ll return to me eventually,” she stated.
I wish for the son I raised to return to my side, and the child I observe when he’s at home... yet once he steps outside and gets involved with grown-ups, he starts making terrible choices.
The subsequent time he provoked ... the law enforcement officer entered and stated, "These are the bail terms we’re assigning to you."
My son replied, 'All you need to do is inform everybody; these things hold no real significance.'
She mentions that the following day, he committed the offense again.
Legal shake-up in Victoria
A has intensified the demand for the Victorian government to revise bail regulations.
As part of the changes, The government stated that detention for young offenders will no longer be considered as a final option, with an emphasis on public protection becoming the key factor in every decision regarding bail.
In Victoria, crime rates have surged to their peak levels seen since 2020; however, this statistic contrasts sharply with another concerning the prison population, which has dropped to its lowest point in over ten years.
Ben Watson, who serves as co-chair at the Law Institute of Victoria, expressed his concerns regarding the potential repercussions of the suggested legislation.
"All the evidence indicates that the sooner and longer a child becomes involved with the criminal justice system, the greater their likelihood of committing offenses again in the future," Mr Watson stated.
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) has criticized the suggested legislation as a "hasty response" that "aims to revert to outdated practices and reinstate the most problematic aspects of Victoria’s former bail laws."
However, Amy mentioned that the state government's suggestion marked the first ray of hope she'd experienced in over a year.
Amy mentioned that she contacted numerous services such as rehab centers, detox facilities, and programs aimed at helping at-risk youth but found no success.
She stated, 'We have exhausted all possible options. Despite him being around 14 or 15 years old, nobody could assist me without his permission— they informed us that this would be a breach of his human rights,'
As long as they say he hasn’t ‘reached rock bottom,’ there’s nothing I can do until he wishes for assistance.
This ranks among the most emotionally devastating experiences I have endured.
Amy mentions that she had to move her entire family just to take her son away from that situation, yet as soon as possible, he goes back.
"He keeps reoffending when he returns to the town where we used to live, even though I have no say in bringing him back home," she explained.
"My hands are tied."
'The system is broken'
Jane, who uses a pseudonym, has spent the last few years working in child protection in Victoria and stated that the system is flawed.
"No matter which way you look at it, your hands are bound—from being a parent to working in child protection, residential care, or youth services," she stated.
You're not permitted to impose penalties here. Poor behavior or legal infractions aren’t met with punishments.
Young individuals will face charges, after which they'll receive their court date. The hearing will typically be postponed around three times before they're released on bail.
Jane expressed serious worries about everyone working in support services since the behavior of the youth was highly erratic.
"I am extremely fearful about what lies ahead," she stated.
Since they believe there are no repercussions… things must get better, and ideally, these revised bail laws will make that happen.
We should return to fundamentals.
