\u201cThere\u2019s no doubt in our minds that when people do go to adult prison when they\u2019re young, the dangers are really, really quite significant,\u201d the agency\u2019s CEO Leigh Garrett told FIVEAA.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe certainly don\u2019t want to see that happen,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd if that does happen, we\u2019ll be jumping up and down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Garrett said he was yet to see any evidence that the changes would see more young people go to adult prisons.<\/p>\n
The State Government plans to absorb the Youth Court into the wider Magistrate\u2019s Court to cut costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always difficult to balance off cost savings with outcomes,\u201d Mr. Garrett said. \u201cI don\u2019t see that this needs to be detrimental, particularly if young people are not sent to adult prisons more and more.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was my understanding that there would magistrates who would specialise in this youth court process, and that being the case we may not lose anything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
LISTEN to the full interview here:<\/strong><\/p>\n