Healing, not handcuffs: research finds pathway to reduce child incarceration

Reprioritising prevention over punishment will help government reduce child incarceration and avoid daily costs of up to $3,000 per child for youth detention, University of Queensland research has found.

In 2024, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were detained at 27 times the rate of their non-Indigenous peers.

Mandandanji woman Dr Lorelle Holland from UQ's Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures said child incarceration was not simply a justice issue but reflected broader social, health, education and policy challenges.

“Many children entering youth justice systems experience complex and unmet support needs for trauma, disability, housing instability, family stress, barriers to culturally safe health, education and social support,” Dr Holland said. 

"Too often we respond to children's distress, disability, trauma and unmet support needs through punitive systems rather than through care, healing and early intervention.”

Dr Holland worked with Elders, community members, educators, health professionals and youth workers to develop the Transformative Healing and Adungadoo Pathways framework, highlighting priority areas for funding.

Research highlighted the importance of investing in wrap-around child and family support services, including early childhood support, therapeutic healing programs, flexible education pathways, crisis housing, family support, and social and emotional wellbeing programs.

"In practice, wrap-around services may involve developmental assessment for a child alongside coordinated support for family wellbeing, housing, education and health needs," Dr Holland said.

The latest data shows 60 per cent of the youth detention population are Indigenous, despite accounting for 6.6 per cent of the population aged 10 to 17 years. 

“These figures point to deep systemic inequities and highlight the need for greater investment in culturally responsive, community-led prevention, healing and support pathways," Dr Holland said. 

“Current policies pay for detention centres and out-of-home care rather than offering support to children and families, despite research showing this only makes offending worse.

“Greater investment in early intervention is far more effective than waiting until children reach crisis point.

“Research shows children thrive when they remain connected to family, culture and community, yet punitive responses can disrupt those connections and contribute to ongoing intergenerational trauma.” 

Read the research published in First Nations Health and Wellbeing - The Lowitja Journal.