Supporting young people transitioning from youth detention into the community

Investigators

Associate Professor Tim Moore, Dr Tracy Cussen, Dr Vicky Saunders, Emeritus Professor Morag McArthur (Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University)

Funding

ACT Community Services Directorate

Aims

• Examine how successful models of support were in assisting reintegration
• Identify areas of improvement for the systems surrounding young people incarcerated in youth detention

Background

Reintegration of young offenders has been shown to be as important in determining future outcomes and in reducing recidivism as incarceration itself. This project looked at the experiences of young people engaged in the youth justice system at Quamby Youth Detention Centre in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) at key points during their incarceration and after they left.

Project details

The ACT Community Services Directorate commissioned the Institute of Child Protection Studies to learn about the experiences of young people who had been in youth detention.

We conducted a qualitative study in Canberra, Australia, with a group of 11 young people. Hearing from young people directly gave us insights into what they needed to make positive changes and effectively transition back into the outside world.

Research questions

• How do young people experience the transition from detention back to the community?
• What challenges limit the success of their reintegration?

Method

• Interviews: Conducted with young people who had experienced detention to gather personal insights.

• Focus groups: Engaged stakeholders, including service providers and community members, to discuss systemic issues.
• Document analysis: Reviewed relevant policies and procedures to understand the institutional context.

Findings

The young people who participated in this study recognised that they require assistance to sustain and develop relationships; to maintain links with critical institutions such as work, school, and informal support; to resolve the effects of detention; and to access support to live successfully in the community.

Projected community impact

Youth detention services could offer better support by designing and implementing more effective responses to young people leaving youth detention that take into account their reflections and experiences.

Publications

Moore, T., & McArthur, M. (2014). If only I, they, we had done things differently: Young people talk about school difficulties and crime. Children and youth services review, 44, 249-255.

Moore, T., McArthur, M., & Saunders, V. (2013). Young People Talk about Transitioning from Youth Detention to the Community: Making Good. Australian Social Work, 66(3), 328-343.

Moore, T., Saunders, V., & McArthur, M. (2008). Lost in transition: Young people's transitions from custody to the community. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.

Project timeline

Completed 2008

Contact

For more information contact: icps@acu.edu.au