Embedded Files
Youth Crime
Youth Crime
In Australia children aged between 10 and 18 are 'of age' for criminal responsibility. The approach Australia has taken toward youth justice has come under heavy critisim in recent years.
Australia's response to youth crime has been heavily critised due to the extreme methods that have been used in our juvenile detention system. This has involved the use of restraints, spit hoods and at times unlawful physical force in order to subdue detainees.
Where Australia tends to use a traditional system of punishment Norway much like with adult crime favours a restoritive justice based approach. Their approach is centered around the belief that nobody under the age of 18 should be imprisoned unless their is a severe case of exceptional circumstance.
In 2019. only 9 juveniles were detained in Norway compared to Australia which had an average of 949 young people imprisoned each night that year.
Rather then approaching the juvenile detention system from the approach of legislation the Norweigan model focuses on the child welfare system. Providing protection and solutions to issues as they arise to prevent crime from occuring. This involves free counselling services.
Dealing with Gangs
Dealing with Gangs
Criminal Gangs: Organised groups involved in illegal activities, often engaging in violence and operating through a hierarchial structure.
These groups are often involved in crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, firearm offences and high level violence.
In response to criminal gangs Australia uses a multi-faceted approach involving law enfrocement programs and efforts, community engagement, prevention programs and legislation.
Law enforcement agencies work to disrupt and prevent crimes associated with criminal gangs through prosecutions and targeted investigations. Anti-gang legislation is in place to ensure that individuals involved are prosecuted adequately and appropriately.
The Australian Federal Police established the Morpheus special task force which in 2019-20 achieved 2393 arrests and seized 170 firearms and 4.3 million in cash.
Individuals arrested and charged with being part of a gang may face up to 5 years in jail or a 60,000 dollar fine as well as the sentence for any additional crimes committed.
Gun Crime in Australia
Gun Crime in Australia
Following the Port Arthur Massacre, we will touch on this more, the Howard Federal Government in Australia implemented new and tighter gun laws. These are some of the strictest in the world.
These new laws banned all fully and semi automatic, pump action and self loading weapons. Addtionally, further restrictions and checks were implemented for people seeking to qualify for a gun licence including a 28 day waiting period. This meant nobody was able to recieve a firearm they purachsed for at least 28 days.
For individuals who owned the newly outlawed guns at the time there was a gun amnesty where people could surrender their weapons without legal consequence and they were given a payment for doing so.
Since Port Arthur Australia has not had a mass shooting and gun related suicides have dropped since the laws were changed.
Gun Crime in the USA
Gun Crime in the USA
In comparison to Australia's laws the USA has less protections against gun crimes. This led to more then 44,000 people losing their lives to gun violence in the USA in 2022 alone.
The gun related laws are restricted by the countries constitutional "Right to Bear Arms". This however has led to a signifcant amount of mass shootings occuring. A mass shooting is defined as an incident where four or more people are killed. In 2022, there were 647 mass shootings, in 2021 690 and 2020 610.
The issue lies within the extreme divide between political parties and their beliefs towards gun ownership in the US. Something which likely will not change anytime soon. This is due to the fact that owning guns is a cycle where people need to buy guns in order to protect themselves
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