Forwarded with permission: Subject: Qld. Media statement - Youth crime prevention forum to focus on solutions Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 9:18 AM Families, Youth and Community Care/Disability Services, HON. ANNA BLIGH 12/8/99 Youth crime prevention forum to focus on solutions Crime specialists, Local Government representatives, youth workers and Indigenous elders from across Queensland have gathered in Brisbane to tackle issues surrounding Youth crime. Officially opening a two day Youth Crime Prevention Forum, Minister for Families, Anna Bligh said prevention is the key to safer communities and a brighter future for young people in conflict with the law. "Youth crime prevention is a major focus of the Beattie government's statewide crime prevention strategy. "To tackle crime, we have to effectively tackle the causes of crime. "This Forum is an opportunity to review the way we are addressing the causes of youth crime and look at how we can do it better," Ms Bligh said. The Forum is a joint initiative of the Department of Families, Youth and Community Care and community agencies funded by the Department's Youth and Community Combined Action (YACCA) scheme. "We need a range of responses to youth crime. We need tough responses to crime and we need better more flexible ways of intervening early and nipping criminal behaviour in the bud. "This Government wants to make sure today's shoplifters don't become tomorrows hardened criminals. "The Conference is a good example of State and Local Governments working in partnership with the community to find solutions," Ms Bligh said. A range of specialist speakers will address the Forum to outline current prevention programs. Dr David Brereton, CJC, will discuss the nature and extent of youth crime in Queensland and Professor Ross Homel from Griffith University will give a keynote address on current trends in crime prevention practice and responses to the causes of crime. The Forum will focus on: � Current approaches to crime prevention � Over representation of indigenous young people in the youth justice system � Strategies for partnership with the wider community � Workshops focussing on improving crime prevention strategies. "I look forward to the outcome of this Forum, its recommendations and challenges to improve our approach to crime prevention," Ms Bligh said. Forum Contact: Lindsay Wegener 0419 668 242, Youth Justice Program, DFYCC ------------------------------------------------------- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/
