Advocate warns adult-led gang contracts exploit youths as NSW debates harsher penalties

New South Wales is set to debate a package of measures that would let courts impose adult penalties, including life terms, on youths convicted of organised-crime violence, following a recent announcement by the Minns government. Justice Reform Initiative executive director Mindy Sotiri contends that children who sign contracts with underworld figures are victims of exploitation and should not be treated as fully responsible adults, pointing to the high recidivism rate of 85% among incarcerated youths.

She highlighted international examples where public-health approaches—such as Scotland’s child-wellbeing framework, Spain’s re-educational centres run by Fundación Diagrama, Hawaii’s trauma-informed diversion model, and New York’s reforms—have dramatically cut youth incarceration. Youth Justice NSW director Kelly-Anne Stewart emphasized that many vulnerable youths face school disengagement, homelessness, mental-health challenges and family trauma, and that early-intervention funding has been increased.

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon warned that some children are being hired on the dark web for minimal pay, while Police Minister Yasmin Catley described the problem as a “whack-a-mole” issue. Community initiatives, including the Police Youth Command and the POLEN program, are being expanded to engage at-risk youths and their families.