At just 13, “Peter” (not his real name) entered the prison system in Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) following a shop robbery triggered by his father’s sudden death. Five years later, this Aboriginal teenager has spent more time behind bars than outside, trapped in a cycle of crime and incarceration.
His story is emblematic of a broader issue in the NT, which boasts the highest incarceration rate in Australia—more than 1,100 per 100,000 people, over five times the national average and twice that of the US. The recent decision by the territory’s government to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 has intensified concerns, particularly impacting Aboriginal communities, who make up nearly all of the youth detainees despite being only 30% of the population.
The Country Liberal Party (CLP), which won a landslide victory by campaigning on public safety, argues that tougher laws are necessary. Sunil Kumar, a Darwin restaurant owner who has experienced multiple break-ins, supports these measures, believing they address youth crime. However, critics argue that political rhetoric inflates fears, noting that while youth offender rates rose 4% nationally last year, they remain half of what they were 15 years ago in the NT.
The introduction of stricter bail laws, named Declan’s Law after a young man fatally stabbed by someone on bail, reflects a community grappling with crime and safety concerns. Samara Laverty, Declan’s mother, sees the legislation as a pivotal step towards a safer Northern Territory.
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