The Commissioner for Children and Young People Leanne McLean today welcomed the Tasmanian Parliament’s decision to pass a law preventing routine practice of strip-searching children and young people in custody.
“The passing today of the Youth Justice Amendment (Searches in Custody) Bill 2022 is a very important step towards creating a safer environment for our children and young people in custody,” Ms McLean said.
“However, I would again repeat that this is but one of many urgent reforms needed to ensure the youth justice system is fit for purpose,” Ms Mclean went on.
“Wide-spread system reform and resourcing must be a priority now to achieve the much-needed therapeutic support services recommended by experts to achieve the best outcomes for children and all in our community.”
Ms McLean has been calling for the end of routine strip searching of children in custody since May, 2019.
The Commissioner’s Submission to the Government’s Youth Justice Blueprint is available here.
