Youth justice conferencing

The aim is for the child to accept responsibility for their crime and understand how it has affected the lives of others.

When you need legal advice

Get legal advice if you:

  • have been asked to participate in a youth justice conference
  • participated in an unsuccessful youth justice conference.

How to get legal advice

Youth justice conference 

A youth justice conference is a voluntary meeting between a child offender, the victim, and others impacted by their crime. An independent mediator facilitates the meeting, which lasts about 2 hours.

Police and the Department of Justice will arrange a youth justice conference when a child pleads guilty, instead of sending them to court.

The aim of the conference is for the child to accept responsibility for their crime and understand how it has affected the lives of others.

The independent mediator will help the child, their family, the victim and others impacted by the crime to reach an agreement on how to repair the harm caused.

A conference will happen even when a victim chooses not to participate. If the child offender refuses to participate, they may be dealt with by the court or police in another way.

Conference results 

At the end of the conference, the child offender may agree to:

  • apologise
  • do something that makes the victim feel safe
  • replace damaged property
  • accept help to stop committing crimes
  • do voluntary work in a community or organisation chosen by the victim.

This conference agreement is put in writing.

If the crime involves a graffiti offence, the agreement must include a requirement for the child offender to do unpaid work to remove the paint damage, unless the victim wants them dealt with in another way.

Legal support for the child offender 

A child offender can apply to Legal Aid to have a lawyer attend the conference with them.

When a youth justice conference is unsuccessful 

Sometimes a conference may be unsuccessful because:

  • no agreement is reached
  • the child does not follow the agreement
  • the child does not attend.

When this happens the police will decide what to do with the child offender. They may try another conference or send them to the criminal court.

Financial assistance for victims 

Financial assistance is available for victims when all of the below applies:

  • violence or attempted violence is part of the crime
  • the offence is committed in Queensland
  • the offence results in the death or injury of a person
  • the crime is reported to police.

There are exceptions to this in certain circumstances.

Stalking and domestic violence are covered by the above criteria, but property offences are not (e.g. breaking and entering, fraud and extortion.

An offender does not need to be identified, arrested, prosecuted or convicted for a victim to qualify for financial assistance.

For more details on applying for financial assistance visit the Victim Assist Queensland website.

How to get legal advice

We may give legal advice about youth justice conferences.

Legal Aid Queensland has a dedicated Youth Team helping children in criminal matters.

Contact us

Other places to get legal advice:

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Related information

Disclaimer: This content is for general purposes only and not legal advice. If you have a legal problem, please contact us or speak to a lawyer. View our full disclaimer.

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