Authorities believe a $46 million upgrade at Malmsbury’s youth justice centre gives young offenders somewhere to lay the foundations of new lives, rather than somewhere just to serve their sentence.
A new 45-bed unit – including three residential wings, education and recreation spaces, and offices – was opened by Families and Children Minister Jenny Mikakos last Wednesday.
Ms Mikakos, who also pledged $1.2 million to keep Aboriginal people from entering the youth justice system, said the unit would focus on rehabilitating young people so they could be reintegrated into society.
She said the goal of youth justice centres was to ‘‘get the best possible outcome’’ for the community.
The new unit, for men aged 18-20 serving custodial sentences, will provide TAFE courses and health and lifestyle programs, including drug and alcohol treatment classes, and parenting sessions.
‘‘Preventing vulnerable youth from entering adult prisons and giving them a practical education will reduce the likelihood that kids will reoffend,’’ Ms Mikakos said.
Macedon Ranges police Inspector Ryan Irwin said a focus on education was welcome.
‘‘Anything that helps people come out with skills and abilities that will help them avoid going back to prison is fantastic,’’ Inspector Irwin said.
‘‘The young men who are going into that system are people who usually haven’t had a lot of opportunities, and opportunities are often what determines how successful or otherwise you are in life.’’
A new 45-bed unit – including three residential wings, educationThe unit, next to the existing centre, is expected to create up to 90 new jobs.
