Justice Matrix · Issues
The cost of detention and the case for reinvestment
What does locking up a child actually cost, and what could that money do instead?
The cost evidence behind youth detention and the reinvestment alternatives.
22 cases16 campaigns1999–2026
19992026
The Law22
anchorFavorablehighNeeds review
Olabud Doogethu Justice Reinvestment (Halls Creek, WA)
Independent Evaluation · 2022
anchorFavorablehighNeeds review
ALRC Report 133 - Pathways to Justice
Australian Law Reform Commission · 2018
FavorablehighNeeds review
ROGS Youth Justice - Productivity Commission Annual
Productivity Commission · 2025
FavorablehighNeeds review
ACT Raises Age of Criminal Responsibility to 14
ACT Legislative Assembly · 2025
FavorablehighNeeds review
Victorian Youth Justice Act 2024 - Raising the Age
Victorian Parliament · 2024
AdversehighNeeds review
NT Lowers Age of Criminal Responsibility Back to 10
NT Legislative Assembly · 2024
PendinghighNeeds review
TAS Commission of Inquiry - Ashley Youth Detention
Commission of Inquiry · 2023
AdversehighNeeds review
WA Inspector Report - Unit 18 Casuarina
Inspector of Custodial Services · 2023
PendinghighNeeds review
QLD Watch House Crisis - Children in Adult Police Cells
QLD Human Rights Commission · 2023
PendinghighNeeds review
OICS Review of Banksia Hill Detention Centre
Inspector of Custodial Services · 2022
AdversehighNeeds review
Closing the Gap Target 11 - Youth Justice
Coalition of Peaks · 2020
FavorablehighNeeds review
Maranguka Justice Reinvestment Evaluation (2018)
KPMG Independent Evaluation · 2018
FavorablehighNeeds review
Royal Commission into Protection and Detention of Children in NT
Royal Commission · 2017
AdversemediumNeeds review
QLD Anti-Association Laws (Youth)
Queensland Parliament · 2024
FavorablemediumNeeds review
AIHW Youth Justice in Australia Annual Report
AIHW · 2024
PendingmediumNeeds review
NSW Inspector of Custodial Services - Youth Justice
NSW Inspector of Custodial Services · 2023
PendingmediumNeeds review
SA Training Centre Visitor - Kurlana Tapa Reports
SA Training Centre Visitor · 2023
FavorablemediumNeeds review
Toomelah Justice Reinvestment Project Evaluation (2022)
UNSW Evaluation · 2022
FavorablemediumNeeds review
Queensland Youth Justice Strategy 2019-2023
Queensland Government · 2019
FavorablemediumNeeds review
Amnesty: A Brighter Tomorrow - Indigenous Kids
Amnesty International · 2015
FavorablemediumNeeds review
Senate Inquiry into Justice Reinvestment
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee · 2013
FavorablemediumNeeds review
Commission of Inquiry into QLD Youth Detention
Commission of Inquiry · 1999
The Movement16
Active2026
Tackle the drivers of crime to create safer communities
Victoria, Australia
Active2023
Free the Kids QLD
Queensland, Australia
Active2021
Close Ashley Youth Detention Centre
Tasmania, Australia
Active2020
Free the Kids - End Child Imprisonment
Australia (National)
Active2020
Justice Reinvestment Network Australia
Australia (National)
Active2020
Bail Reform for Children Campaign
Australia (National)
Active2019
Justice Reinvestment - Mt Druitt
Australia - NSW
Active2019
Justice Reinvestment Network Australia
Australia (National)
Active2019
Youth Justice Coalition QLD - Voices for Change
Australia - QLD
Active2018
SmartJustice for Young People
Australia (National)
Active2016
Raise the Age National Campaign
Australia (National)
Active2016
Close Don Dale Campaign
Australia - NT
Active2016
NSW Justice Reinvestment Expansion
New South Wales, Australia
Active2015
Change the Record Coalition
Australia (National)
Active2013
Justice Reinvestment - Bourke (Maranguka)
Australia - NSW
Active2000
Youth Justice Coalition NSW
Australia - NSW
The People0
Lived-experience accounts for this issue are not in the matrix yet. Contribute one.
What the courts held
The doctrine, in the courts’ own holdings.
Held for protection (13)
“Community-led initiative in Halls Creek reduced youth incarceration by 54% over 3 years. Night patrols, cultural programs, and family mediation. WA Government expanded funding.”
Olabud Doogethu Justice Reinvestment (Halls Creek, WA) (2022)Needs review
“35 recommendations: justice reinvestment funding, Koori Courts expansion, custody notification nationwide, mandatory cultural awareness for police/courts.”
ALRC Report 133 - Pathways to Justice (2018)Needs review
“Most comprehensive quantitative dataset on youth justice spending, outcomes, and disparities across all states/territories.”
ROGS Youth Justice - Productivity Commission Annual (2025)Needs review
“Children 10-13 no longer subject to criminal law. Therapeutic and restorative justice pathways. Aboriginal-specific support programs.”
ACT Raises Age of Criminal Responsibility to 14 (2025)Needs review
Held against (4)
“Described as regressive and harmful. UN minimum recommendation is 14.”
NT Lowers Age of Criminal Responsibility Back to 10 (2024)Needs review
“Children held in adult facility without adequate education, recreation, family contact. 74% Aboriginal. Recommended immediate transfer back to purpose-built facility.”
WA Inspector Report - Unit 18 Casuarina (2023)Needs review
“Target off-track nationally. Only ACT showing improvement. Most jurisdictions seeing increased Indigenous overrepresentation.”
Closing the Gap Target 11 - Youth Justice (2020)Needs review
“Expanded police powers for youth. Criticised by legal community as disproportionate and ineffective. No evidence that association restrictions reduce offending.”
QLD Anti-Association Laws (Youth) (2024)Needs review
Playbook
What worked, what failed, what is reusable.
The pattern. The cost of detaining a child is the lever behind the reinvestment case. This issue gathers the real records and Australian evidence tagged to justice reinvestment and youth justice.
What to look for. The independent cost figure, what the alternative model funded, and who governed the money.
This is a research resource, not legal advice. Read the linked source before acting on it.
On this issue recently
Nothing new in the last 90 days. The scanners watch the courts weekly; see what is moving across the whole matrix.
Research resource, not legal advice. Read the original source before acting. Cases and campaigns are gathered by shared issue tags; some may be machine-extracted and pending human review.