D.02 Youth and Vulnerable Young Adults

Authority for Policy

• Corrections Regulations 2005, Regulations 179 to 183.
• Youth Units Policy and Operating Procedures
• Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989, sections 364, 368.
• Children and Young Persons (Residential Care) Regulations 1996.
• Agreement on matters relating to children and young persons between the Department of Corrections and the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services.
• Operating Policy for the Placement and Management of
• Youth and Vulnerable Young Adult Prisoners at Secondary Sites.
• Prison Services circular 2008/09

Policy Standard

• Prisoners under 20 years of age are managed in a manner appropriate to their age, level of vulnerability and statutory requirements.

Target Populations

This system recognises three categories of male prisoners under 20 years of age:

• Youth – prisoners 17 years of age and under (14-17 years inclusive);
• Vulnerable Young Adults – prisoners aged 18 and 19 years of age assessed as suitable by the Test of Best Interests for Men (TBI) for placement in a youth unit; and
• Under 20 adults – prisoners aged 18 or 19 years of age assessed as not suitable by the Test of Best Interests for Men (TBI) for placement in a youth unit.

This system recognises four placement categories for the three categories of prisoner under 20 years of age:

• Vulnerable sentenced youths aged 14-16 years (inclusive) transferred to Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Residences;
• Youths automatically placed in specially designated youth units by virtue of their age;
• Vulnerable Young Adults placed in specially designated youth units; and
• Under 20 year old adults placed outside a youth unit.

Note: Youth and Vulnerable Young Adults may be temporarily placed outside a youth unit in a secondary sites designated unit(s). When temporarily placed at a secondary site, they are to be held in approved designated unit(s) as per the Operating Policy for the Placement and Management of Youth and Vulnerable Young Adult Prisoners at Secondary Sites.

Youths and vulnerable young adults who are actively “at risk” will not be placed in a youth unit.