Failure to protect Indigenous children from violence at home ‘funnels’ them into crime, Queensland report finds

Research on justice and support systems says current approach creates further trauma, resulting in lifelong consequences

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Queensland’s First Nations children experiencing domestic and family violence are being harmed – and funnelled into risk-taking and criminal behaviour – by failures in the child protection, youth justice and other support systems, a landmark report has found.

Released amid a heightened debate about youth crime in Queensland, the report gives new insight into how unsafe home environments, and a lack of safe places to go to escape family violence, create conditions in which young people become entangled in the justice system.