AN $80 million investment will be rolled out over four years in Queensland to deliver Circuit Breaker Sentencing.
Non-Government organisations are invited to partner with the State Government to deliver the new court ordered initiative.
Circuit Breaker Sentencing gives courts the option to order youth to undergo rehabilitation, while also removing them from the communities.
Delivered across two remote locations in the north and south east Queensland, Circuit Breaker Sentencing will have capacity for up to 60 young offenders for three to six months, offering a genuine alternative to detention built on structure, discipline, education and rehabilitation.
Circuit Breaker Sentencing is a tough-on-crime approach with discipline and consequences and is a major pillar of the Making our Community Safer plan.
The detention alternative is set to deliver structure, discipline, education and skills training, while providing wrap-around health and social support to steer youth offenders away from a life of crime.
The comprehensive plan is one of the biggest policy changes in more than 10 years in the youth justice space.
The Queensland Government says compelling youth offenders into rehabilitation rather than simply releasing them back into community, offers one final chance to turn their lives around as an alternative to detention.
Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said Circuit Breaker Sentencing is a critical step to fixing the Youth Crime Crisis.
“Circuit Breaker Sentencing is the last stop before detention and a chance for youth offenders to face consequences and commit to real change,” Ms Gerber said.
“For too long, repeat youth offenders have cycled through a broken system with no real intervention. This program compels them into intensive rehabilitation and puts community safety first.
“Through Circuit Breaker Sentencing, the courts will have the option to order youths to the rehabilitation they need as an alternative to detention to stop the churn of reoffending and restore safety where Queenslanders live.
“It will provide courts with an additional tool to address youth offending and help redirect youths away from a life of crime.”
Non-Government organisations are invited to express interest in partnering to help provide genuine rehabilitation.
The market engagement process to deliver Circuit Breaker Sentencing is now open and closes on October 9, 2025.
Delivery of the program will commence in 2026.
