• The rights of children when questioned or arrested
Children have all the same rights as adults when arrested and questioned but also have extra special protections to due their vulnerability
The “Seen and Heard: Young People and the Legal Process” report by the ALRC and the HREOC made a number of recommendations:
Standardising across Australia, the minimum age of criminal responsibility
Standardising national standards through legislation or policy for juvenile justice
Covering investigation, arrest, bail conditions, sentencing and detention
The Young Offenders Act 1997
Aims to provide alternatives to court proceedings and is designed to foster restorative justice (Youth justice conferencing) and the rehabilitation of the child
It outlines:
1. The least restrictive form of sanction is to be applied against the child
2. A child has the entitlement to be informed about their right to obtain legal advice and have an opportunity to do so
3. Criminal proceedings are not to be instituted against the child if there is an alternative means with dealing with the matter
4. Parents should be included in the justice process
The Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW) sets out the police powers in relation to children which includes:
Police have the right to ask a child/youth for their name and address
However, the child does not have to answer unless they are driving, drinking alcohol in public places or suspected of committing a serious indictable offence
Police have to right to ask questions but the youth has the right to silence
Children have the right to have a responsible adult present when questioned by police. Anything said without the presence of such a person will be inadmissible in court.
Police can search, but not strip search a child under 10 and must have a responsible adult present to do so if the child is aged 10-18
Police can arrest a young person if:
1. They suspect the person has just, is in the middle of or is about to commit a crime
2. They have a warrant