IPRT Submission to the Department of Justice Consultation on diversion for young adults 18-24

18th January 2023

IPRT appreciates the opportunity to make this submission to the Department of Justice, as part of its public consultation on the topic of diversion paths for young adults aged 18–24. The Department’s commitment in the Youth Justice Strategy 2021 – 2027 to explore age-appropriate interventions for young adults is very welcome and represents an ambitious and progressive approach to responding to offending by young adults, while repairing harm.

The IPRT submission to the consultation made recommendations under the following areas:

• Alternatives to custody
• Sentencing 
• Suitability for diversion
• Potential diversion paths
• Staff, training and resourcing
• Data and resourcing
• Engagement with diversion process
• Implementing an appropriate approach to records of diversion
• Meeting the rights and needs of victims

In total, the IPRT submission to the consultation makes 26 recommendations for reform.

Read the IPRT submission in full here.