Enhanced youth bail service helping young people in need

Early results from a new $2 million youth justice after-hours bail support service show it has already helped keep eight young people out of custody and found appropriate community-based accommodation for them, ACT Minister for Community Services Joy Burch said today.

"The dedicated helpline has received 44 phone calls in relation to 59 young people and the service has helped keep eight young people away from detention at the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre by providing them suitable accommodation in the community," Ms Burch said.

"No one wants to see young people in custody and this new service, only launched in late October, is already achieving its aim of reducing the incidents of short periods of remand for young people in the youth justice system."

The After-Hours Bail Support Service provides a service for young people who are at risk of being remanded in custody, to assist them to remain in the community. The ACT Government provided $2 million over four years in the 2011-12 Budget to establish the service.

The funding provided for after-hours Community Services Directorate staff to assess a young person's suitability for bail and provide support to young people, family and the police. The service operates between 5pm- 2am weekdays and 4pm-2am on weekends and public holidays.

Ms Burch said the new service had been well accepted across the youth justice sector and had already become a valued resource.

"Key stakeholders and individuals in the youth justice sector have been contacting the new service for assistance. These include ACT Policing, out-of-home care and refuges and importantly young people who have been looking to source community-based accommodation.

"The success of this service is being seen today but the most important benefits will be felt in the long term when we see the positive impacts on the lives of the young people who have been kept out of custody."