❓ Hon Nick Goiran asks about court-based programs for young offenders in WA, including details on their legal basis, recording of participation, and outcomes of court conferencing. The Attorney General provides information on program types, legal frameworks, activities, and recidivism data.
AnsweredQoN 168Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to court-based programs which occur prior to the finalisation of criminal proceedings, and I ask: (a) what is the list of court-based programs available for young offenders; (b) are all of these court-based programs established or authorised under legislation or regulations; (c) if no to (b), which programs are not; (d) when a young offender engages in a court-based program, is their conviction and participation in the program recorded on that offender’s criminal history; and (e) in relation to court conferencing specifically: (i) on average, how long does it take for a court conferencing process to be completed following a referral; (ii) what activities or interventions are typically undertaken by a young offender during the court conferencing process; (iii) is there a standardised process, or set of guidelines, that governs how court conferencing is conducted; (iv) what outcomes commonly result from court conferencing; (v) what is the recidivism rate for young offenders in Western Australia who have participated in court conferencing as a pre-sentencing option; and (vi) further to (v), how does this compare to the recidivism rate for young offenders who have not participated in any court-based programs?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General
Response time
10 days
(a) Court Conferencing, Children's Court Drug Court, and INROADS (Individualised Recovery of Adolescents with Disadvantage) Court Program.
(b) No. All programs are facilitated whilst young people are accessing bail. While they are not legislated programs, the power to adjourn a matter to facilitate informal or extra-curial punishment or fulfilment of undertakings is legislated in the Young Offenders Act 1994.
(c) See answer (b).
(d) No. Only sentence outcomes are recorded.
(e)
(i) Between 1 July 2024 and 31 May 2025, the average time to complete a Court Conferencing Referral service was 67 days
(ii) Court Conferencing is a procedure designed to increase the young offender’s understanding of the effect of their offending and reduce likelihood of recidivisim. Activities are tailored on a case-by-case basis. Examples include “Apology – Written”; “Law Lecture/Minor Offender Lecture”; and “Supervision of Reporting”
(iii) Yes. The process is guided by Youth Justice policies and procedures which are underpinned by the Young Offenders Act 1994.
(iv) The most common result from court conferencing was the matter being dealt with as per Section 67 of the Young Offenders Act 1994 (no further punishment)
(v) See answer (d). The Department does not include these services in the recidivism calculations.
(vi) See answer (v).
(b) No. All programs are facilitated whilst young people are accessing bail. While they are not legislated programs, the power to adjourn a matter to facilitate informal or extra-curial punishment or fulfilment of undertakings is legislated in the Young Offenders Act 1994.
(c) See answer (b).
(d) No. Only sentence outcomes are recorded.
(e)
(i) Between 1 July 2024 and 31 May 2025, the average time to complete a Court Conferencing Referral service was 67 days
(ii) Court Conferencing is a procedure designed to increase the young offender’s understanding of the effect of their offending and reduce likelihood of recidivisim. Activities are tailored on a case-by-case basis. Examples include “Apology – Written”; “Law Lecture/Minor Offender Lecture”; and “Supervision of Reporting”
(iii) Yes. The process is guided by Youth Justice policies and procedures which are underpinned by the Young Offenders Act 1994.
(iv) The most common result from court conferencing was the matter being dealt with as per Section 67 of the Young Offenders Act 1994 (no further punishment)
(v) See answer (d). The Department does not include these services in the recidivism calculations.
(vi) See answer (v).
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