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Juvenile justice

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Lucy (right), with mother Kate, says it was terrifying having an intervention order put on her by another student.

A boy sexually harassed Lucy at school. Then his mother used an IVO to silence her

The number of children seeking legal help with intervention orders placed by other school parents has doubled. For Lucy, whose harasser took one out on her, it was devastating.

  • Wendy Tuohy

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Aidan Becker.

Good Samaritan killed at train station remembered as hero with a kind soul

Aidan Becker was killed while intervening as a group allegedly tried to rob a schoolboy, police say. His friends remembered him as kind and optimistic.

  • Angus Delaney and Marta Pascual Juanola
Premier David Crisafulli and Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber (back right) will expand the LNP’s adult crime, adult time legislation in parliament this week.

LNP expands ‘adult crime, adult time’ laws with 12 new offences

The new laws will target stalking, conspiring to murder, abuse and other offences, taking the total to 45, the premier announced on Sunday.

  • Cameron Atfield
BackTrack Night Crew workers Steph Olsen and Zac Craig at Armidale’s police station.

Fast track BackTrack: Program for troubled kids must be replicated

Community-led programs are the key to helping stem youth crime.

  • The Herald's View
BackTrack Night Crew workers Zac Craig and Steph Olsen talk to young people in Armidale.

This service is saving kids’ lives. More towns want to replicate it, but none have succeeded

Politicians want to replicate it and most of the “at-risk” children involved in BackTrack never want to leave.

  • Jordan Baker
Police arrest a teenage boy at his Armidale home. Regional NSW is experiencing a high number break-ins and car thefts by young people.

Inside the towns where kids wear balaclavas and carry machetes – and locals live in fear

Violent break-ins and car thefts in some country towns have become so normalised – even glamorised – that it’s regarded by some kids as a standard night out.

  • Jordan Baker
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During the last sitting week, Labor renamed several standing parliamentary committees – all essentially controlled by the government – with one now featuring one of its own political slogans.

Committees sign off controversial developer donation and youth bail bills

The Crisafulli government has confirmed one of set of proposed laws will be passed in next week’s return of parliament for 2026 – and challenged Labor to support it.

  • Matt Dennien
Youths on the roof of Banksia Hill on Monday.

Banksia Hill 17-hour rooftop riot exposes ‘hopelessness inside’, advocate says

Six detainees, aged between 12 and 17, climbed onto the roof of the Canning Vale youth prison on Monday. Three spent the night up there, damaging anything in their path.

  • Carla Hildebrandt
Youths on the roof of Banksia Hill Detention Centre on Monday afternoon, November 24, 2025. Picture: 9News Perth

WA youth detention in spotlight as detainees scale Banksia Hill roof

A group of about six youths scaled the roof of Banksia Hill on Monday afternoon, throwing bricks, poles and fire extinguishers as authorities scrambled to bring them down. 

  • Rebecca Peppiatt
Artist impression of the new $100 million high-risk youth justice facility.

Unit 18 to remain open with replacement not available for three years

Papalia revealed the tender would be released next week, but it was likely the proposed centre wouldn’t be ready until 2028 and Unit 18 would remain open until the new facility is complete.

  • Hamish Hastie