On this page
We have established an inquiry to understand the experiences of children under 14 years of age who are:
- in contact with the criminal justice system, or
- at risk of contact with the criminal justice system.
Why we are doing this inquiry
We established this inquiry because we continue to see service failures that lead to children being criminalised at a young age. This puts them at a higher risk of long-term involvement in the criminal justice system as adolescents and adults.
What we will be looking into
The terms of reference for the inquiry are to:
- understand the experiences and characteristics of children under 14 years brought into contact with the criminal justice system and the range of behaviours that brings them into contact with the system
- understand the existence and availability of service supports for children under 14 years currently in contact with the criminal justice system
- recommend any changes to policy, practice, legislation or the delivery of services for this cohort.
How to have your say in the inquiry
We want to hear directly from children and young people who have been involved in the criminal justice system when they were under 14. We are interested in hearing about:
- their lives and experiences
- their experiences with the criminal justice system
- their thoughts on alternative responses that could have helped them.
If you know of children who might be interested in participating or if you have any general questions about the inquiry please email engage@ccyp.vic.gov.au.
Download the inquiry poster [PDF 894 kb]