YOUTH JUSTICE ACT 2005

Table of Provisions

PART 1--PRELIMINARY MATTERS

Division 1-- General matters

• 1 Short title  
• 2 Commencement  
• 3 Objects  
• 4 Principles  

Division 2--Interpretation matters

• 5 Interpretation  
• 6 Meaning of youth  
• 7 Intimate procedures  
• 8 Non-intimate procedures  
• 9 Illicit drug or substance  

Division 3--Use of force generally

• 10 Use of force generally  

PART 2--APPREHENSION AND REMAND

Division 1--General matters

• 12 Application of Part  
• 13 Definitions  
• 14 Register of appropriate support persons  

Division 2--Police powers and obligations

• 15 Explanations by police officers  
• 16 Guidelines in relation to arrest of youths  
• 17 Authorised officer to be notified  
• 18 Interview of youth  
• 19 Search of youth  
• 20 Search must be by person of same gender  
• 21 Authorised officer must consent to prosecution  
• 22 Charge to be by summons except in certain cases  
• 23 Responsible adults to be informed  
• 24 Detention of youth not admitted to bail  
• 25 Detained youth requiring medical attention  
• 26 Separation from adults where practicable  
• 27 Youth to be brought before Court promptly  

Division 3--Forensic procedures

• 28 Interpretation  
• 29 Restriction on carrying out procedure  
• 30 Intimate procedure  
• 31 Non-intimate procedure  
• 32 Voluntary non-intimate procedure  
• 33 Identifying procedure  
• 34 Youth to be provided with copy of report  

Division 4--Support persons and authorised officers

• 35 Support person  
• 36 Authorised officers  

PART 3--DIVERSION OF YOUTH

• 37 Purpose and application of Part  
• 38 Definitions  
• 38A Meaning of prescribed offence  
• 39 Diversion of youth  
• 40 Youth and responsible adult must consent to diversion  
• 41 Effect of diverting youth  
• 42 Extension of limitation period  
• 42A Reporting on diversion of youth  
• 43 Publication of information of diversion  
• 44 No review or appeal  

PART 4--YOUTH JUSTICE COURT

• 45 Continuation and constitution  
• 46 Exercise of jurisdiction  
• 46A Changes in constitution of Court during proceedings  
• 47 Registrar of Youth Justice Court  
• 48 Where Youth Justice Court may be held  
• 49 Proceedings to be in closed court  
• 50 Restriction of publication  
• 51 Youth in need of protection  

PART 5--COURT PROCEEDINGS

Division 1--Jurisdiction and proceedings generally

• 52 Jurisdiction of Youth Justice Court  
• 53 Application of other Acts  
• 54 Court to deal with matters summarily except in certain cases  
• 54A Exception if adult offender would be liable to life imprisonment  
• 55 Indictable offence tried summarily if youth consents  
• 56 Court may decline to hear and determine charge summarily  
• 56A Youth may elect to be tried summarily  
• 56B Youth and adult charged – joint preliminary examination  
• 57 Referral to Supreme Court for sentencing  
• 58 Pleas in summary hearing  
• 59 Exclusion of evidence unlawfully obtained  
• 60 Points of law may be reserved for consideration of Supreme Court  
• 61 Court must explain proceedings to youth  
• 62 Legal representation of youth  
• 63 Responsible adults to attend court  
• 64 Court may refer youth to diversion  
• 64A Youth Justice Court may dismiss charges  
• 64B Court may order appropriate Agency to enter into family responsibility agreement with parent of youth  
• 65 Court may remand youth  

Division 2--Reports and submissions

• 66 Enquiry and examination authorised  
• 67 Report as to mental condition of youth  
• 68 Court may seek submissions or reports  
• 69 Court must require pre-sentence report  
• 70 Content of pre-sentence report  
• 71 Report in certain circumstances  
• 72 Court may adjourn for report to be prepared  
• 73 Reports to be made available  
• 74 Challenge to contents of report  
• 75 Protection in relation to report  

Division 3--Victim impact statements and victim reports

• 76 Definitions  
• 77 Court must consider victim impact statement or victim report  
• 78 Victim impact statements  
• 79 Victim reports  
• 80 Other matters may be addressed  

Division 4--Community court sentencing procedure

• 80A Definitions  
• 80B Meaning of Aboriginal experience report  
• 80C Application for community court sentencing procedure  
• 80D Community court sentencing procedure  
• 80E Information in Aboriginal experience report and responses of Law and Justice Group  
• 80F Rules of Court and practice directions  

PART 6--DISPOSITION BY COURT

Division 1--General principles

• 81 Principles and considerations to be applied to youth offenders  
• 82 Powers of Supreme Court in sentencing  

Division 2--Sentencing options

• 83 Orders Court may make  
• 84 Court may order pre-sentencing conference  
• 85 Non-parole period  
• 86 Fixing non-parole period otherwise than at time of sentencing  
• 87 Fixing new non-parole period in respect of multiple sentences  
• 88 Court may disqualify youth from holding driving licence  
• 89 Restitution  
• 89A Court may order family responsibility agreement be entered into  

Division 3--Approved programs

• 90 Matters relating to approved programs  

Division 4--Good behaviour orders

• 91 Making good behaviour order  

Division 5--Fines

• 92 Imposition of fine  

Division 6--Community work orders

• 93 Application and purpose of community work orders  
• 94 Making community work order  
• 95 Duties of youth in carrying out community work order  
• 96 Breach of community work order  
• 97 CEO may approve projects  

Division 7--Suspended sentences

• 98 Making order to suspend sentence  
• 98A Procedural matters  

Division 8--Alternative detention orders

• 99 Application  
• 100 Making alternative detention order  
• 101 Circumstances in which alternative detention order may be made  
• 102 Conditions of order  
• 103 Procedural matters  
• 104 If more than one alternative detention order made  
• 110 Breach of alternative detention order  

Division 9--Periodic detention orders

• 111 Application  
• 112 Making periodic detention order  
• 113 Order must specify number of detention or imprisonment periods  
• 114 Conditions of order  
• 115 Procedural matters  
• 116 Order remains in force until served or cancelled  
• 117 Warrant of commitment covers all periods  
• 118 Youth in lawful custody  
• 119 Appropriate authority can vary times  
• 120 Youth unfit for detention or imprisonment  

Division 10--Breach of order and re-offending during adjournment

• 121 Breach  
• 122 Youth offends during adjournment  

Division 11--Miscellaneous matters

• 123 Explanation of orders  
• 124 Arrest without warrant if condition breached  
• 125 Aggregate sentences of detention or imprisonment  
• 126 Detention or imprisonment to be concurrent unless otherwise ordered  
• 127 Cumulative orders of detention or imprisonment  
• 128 Taking other offences into account  
• 129 Sentence of detention or imprisonment may be backdated  
• 130 Order of service of sentences of detention or imprisonment  
• 131 Further sentence if detainee on parole  
• 133 Parents liable for costs of detention  
• 134 Forfeiture of bail  
• 135 Registrar may disclose name of youth  
• 136 Certain findings of guilt not to be mentioned  
• 137 Procedure where youth before another court  
• 138 Procedure where adult before Youth Justice Court  
• 139 Court has jurisdiction  
• 140 Referred proceedings valid  

PART 6AA--COMMUNITY YOUTH JUSTICE OFFICERS AND MONITORING

Division 1--Community youth justice officers

• 140AA Community youth justice officers  

Division 2--Monitoring

• 140AB Approval of monitoring devices  
• 140AC Direction by community youth justice officer  
• 140AD CEO may direct use of approved monitoring device  
• 140AE Compliance with monitoring order  

Division 3--Alcohol and drug testing

• 140AF Prescribed alcohol/drug tests  
• 140AG Tampering with test samples  
• 140AH Evidentiary matters in relation to prescribed alcohol/drug tests  

PART 6A--RESPONSIBLE CARE AND SUPERVISION WITHIN THE FAMILY

Division 1--Preliminary

• 140A Definitions  
• 140B Guiding principles  
• 140C How Agency acts for the purposes of this Act  
• 140CA Relationship of this Part to Court powers  

Division 2--Family responsibility agreements

• 140D Power to enter into family responsibility agreement  
• 140E Family responsibility agreement  
• 140F Family responsibility agreement not to give rise to enforceable obligations  

Division 3--Family circumstances

• 140G Inquiries into family circumstances  
• 140H General provisions about inquiry  

PART 7--RECONSIDERATION AND REVIEW OF SENTENCES AND APPEALS

• 141 Reconsideration of sentence  
• 142 Review of sentencing orders  
• 143 Court may re-open proceeding to correct sentencing errors  
• 144 Appeal to Supreme Court  
• 145 Appeal operates as stay  
• 146 Single Judge may refer appeal to Full Court  
• 147 Powers of Supreme Court on appeal  

PART 8--YOUTH DETENTION CENTRES

Division 1--Detention centres

• 148 Approval of youth detention centres  
• 149 Admission to detention centre  
• 150 Explanation of rights and responsibilities  

Division 2--Superintendent

• 151AB Meaning of approved restraints  
• 151 Superintendent of detention centre  
• 152 Powers of superintendent  
• 153 Prohibited actions  
• 154 Use of force  
• 155 Use of restraint devices  
• 155A Separation of detainees  
• 155B What happens during separation  
• 156 Detainee's right to be heard  
• 157 Delegation by superintendent  
• 157A Assistance to deal with or prevent emergency  
• 158 Register of detainees  
• 158A Register of use of approved restraints  

Division 3--Detainees

• 159 Sample by buccal swab  
• 160 Detainee may be tested for alcohol or illicit drug  
• 161 Search of detainees  
• 162 At risk detainees  
• 163 Complaint  

Division 4--Miscellaneous matters

• 164 Detainee who becomes an adult  
• 165 Superintendent may permit absence from centre  
• 166 Early release by superintendent  
• 167 Arrest of unlawfully absent detainee  
• 167A Return to custody  
• 167B Use of detention centre to accommodate sheriff's detainees  
• 168 Inspection of detention centre  
• 168A Transfer of detainee to another detention centre  

PART 9--OFFICIAL VISITORS

• 169 Appointment of official visitors  
• 170 Functions of official visitors  
• 171 Frequency of visits  
• 172 Official visitors not to interfere  

PART 10--MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR DETAINEES

• 173 Access to medical practitioner  
• 174 Direction of medical practitioner  
• 175 Taking of medical sample  
• 176 Detainee may be required to be examined or treated  
• 177 CEO can give consent  
• 178 Removal to hospital  
• 179 Custody of detainee in hospital  
• 180 Notification of illness or death  

PART 11--INTERSTATE TRANSFER OF DETAINEES AND YOUTHS UNDER SUPERVISION

• 181 Definitions  
• 182 Application of Part  
• 183 Ministers may agree  
• 184 Transfer from Territory  
• 185 Transfer from State to Territory  
• 186 Reports  
• 187 Escort for transfer  
• 188 Information to be sent to corresponding Minister  
• 189 Sentence transferred  
• 190 Order revoked if transferee escapes  
• 191 Territory transferee subject to supervision  
• 192 Youth subject to supervision in State  

PART 12--OFFENCES

• 193 Escaping from detention centre  
• 194 Escape of interstate detainee  
• 195 Aiding or abetting escapee  
• 196 Loitering  
• 197 Contraband  
• 198 Communication  
• 199 Offence to remove youth  
• 200 Obstructing or hindering detention centre staff and other officers  
• 201 Personation  

PART 13--YOUTH JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

• 202 Definition  
• 203 Establishment  
• 204 Functions  
• 205 Powers  
• 206 Members  
• 207 Chairperson  
• 208 Term of office  
• 209 Vacation of office  
• 210 Termination of appointment  
• 211 Meetings  
• 212 Quorum  
• 213 Annual report  

PART 14--MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

• 214 Confidentiality  
• 215 Immunity  
• 215A Prosecutions  
• 215B Civil proceedings  
• 216 Delegation by Minister or CEO  
• 217 Regulations  

PART 15--REPEALS AND TRANSITIONAL MATTERS FOR YOUTH JUSTICE ACT 2005

• 218 Definition  
• 219 Repeal of Acts  
• 220 Saving of approvals and appointments  
• 221 Orders of Juvenile Court  
• 222 Proceedings not completed  
• 223 Offences committed before commencement of this Act  

PART 16--PROVISIONS FOR YOUTH JUSTICE AMENDMENT ACT 2010

• 224 Exercise of jurisdiction under pre-commencement Act  
• 225 Matter before Supreme Court at commencement  

PART 17--TRANSITIONAL MATTERS

Division 1--Criminal Code Amendment (Criminal Damage) Act 2011

• 226 Transitional matters for Criminal Code Amendment (Criminal Damage) Act 2011  

Division 2--Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2014

• 227 Application of section 131 to offences committed before commencement  

Division 3--Sentencing Legislation Amendment Act 2015

• 228 Application of amendments  

Division 4--Transitional matters for Youth Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2017

• 229 Definitions  
• 230 Immunity continues  
• 231 Prosecutions may be made by Commissioner of Correctional Services  
• 232 Superseded references to certain offices  

Division 5--Transitional matters for Youth Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2018

• 233 Definitions  
• 234 Isolated detainees  
• 235 Restrained detainees  

Division 6--Transitional matters for Youth Justice and Related Legislation Amendment Act 2019

• 236 Definitions  
• 237 Application of section 215B after commencement  
• 238 Application of section 215B before commencement  

Division 7--Transitional matters for Sexual Offences (Evidence and Procedure) Amendment Act 2020

• 239 Publications allowed under section 50(2)  
• 241 Application of Part 5, Division 4  
• SCHEDULE
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