Alternatives To Isolation That Actually Work
Rehabilitation focused alternatives in Australia’s youth detention system are far more effective than solitary confinement in reducing reoffending and supporting young people to thrive.
Isolation-based practices are deeply damaging measures that cause immense harm to children in juvenile detention. The rehabilitation of children in detention is crucial to upholding their rights and protection according to international standards, and it must be prioritised in the youth justice system. The inadequacy of isolation-based practices is well-documented, yet they continue to be implemented primarily for punitive purposes, in the pursuit of a ‘tough on crime’ approach.
However, there is an ever-increasing plethora of evidence that demonstrates that isolation-based practices are completely ineffective in lowering recidivism and preventing youth crime.
So then the question naturally is what actually works? What measures can be implemented that will rehabilitate young offenders and ensure that they are able to fully reintegrate into their communities? Practices that focus on the rehabilitation of the offender, particularly by addressing underlying issues and developing healthy behaviours, have proven to be far more successful in reducing recidivism. It is these kinds of measures, that prioritise the care and protection of children in detention, that should be implemented in youth detention centres.
It is worth mentioning that the nature of detention in and of itself is fundamentally traumatic for young offenders. Research shows that the outcomes for children are far higher in non-institutional environments as opposed to prison environments. Incarceration is inherently harmful and, at the very least, disruptive for mental, emotional, and social development. This is only further exacerbated by the use of solitary confinement practices which must be unequivocally eliminated. However, there are ways in which detention centres can be substantially improved, so as to facilitate the proper treatment and protection of children in these centres through various rehabilitation-focused practices.
1. Mental health and trauma-informed care
Implementing trauma-informed care in Australia’s youth detention system is essential to addressing the underlying issues faced by young offenders and ensuring genuine rehabilitation.
It is crucial that the trauma-informed individualised assessment and care of young offenders is implemented as standard procedure in juvenile justice in Australia. The research is clear that children in detention very often experience a range of underlying issues and trauma which form the basis for criminal behaviour. Their injection into a high stress and often abusive environment only reinforces these issues and significantly undermines their social, emotional and mental development. Trauma-informed care allows for these issues to be properly addressed so that children in detention can receive suitable care in response to their individual needs. This is fundamental in ensuring their rehabilitation as functioning members of society upon release.
The Victorian Omsbudsman’s 2019 investigation report into the use of solitary practices on young offenders made several recommendations in support of rehabilitative care programs for children in detention. Notably, the need to incorporate “culturally supportive therapeutic spaces” was underlined as crucial in providing alternatives to solitary and isolation rooms. Evidence from overseas initiatives, while not specifically pertaining to the care of children, have also demonstrated the effectiveness of prioritising mental health care over isolation practices. Initiatives in Northern Ireland, the United States, and Canada have shown that prisoners exhibiting mental health symptoms, anti-social or self-harming behaviours or emotional distress, when referred to trained medical professionals and specialised treatment programs, have far better psychological outcomes.
It is clear that a similar approach to youth detention would have equally positive results. Juvenile detention centres in Australia must commit to prioritising mental health care and utilising trauma-informed practices in place of segregation-based measures in their treatment of child offenders.
2. Facilitating contact with family members and community support networks
Strong family and community connections are essential for young people in youth detention, yet isolationist practices and disconnection often deepen trauma and increase the risk of reoffending.
Detention centres are, as previously established, inherently traumatic environments for children. This is partly due to the removal of these children from their family and support networks and communities, and their subsequent placement into centres that do not properly facilitate healthy peer engagement and instead frequently utilise isolationist measures. Particularly for Indigenous children, kin and connection to country is fundamental to Indigenous life; as such, they often experience heightened emotional and spiritual distress from being placed in youth detention centres away from their communities, which are only further exacerbated by solitary practices..
Upon release, young offenders are often at a disadvantage in terms of re-engaging and connecting with their communities, and as such, fall back into patterns of re-offending when they are not given the support they need to reintegrate successfully. It is crucial that youth justice centres facilitate support networks for young offenders, so that when they are released back into their communities, instead of having to deal with further isolation from their family and community, they are able to rely on these networks to help them reintegrate into society. There is even evidence to suggest that integrating family therapy programs into youth offenders’ treatment options has the potential to reduce recidivism upon release by fostering family connection and skills to address underlying issues.
It is crucial that youth detention centres foster these familial and community relationships, to allow children in detention the best chance of success once they are released back into their communities.
3. Education and skills programs to facilitate reintegration
Education and skills programs in youth detention are critical to rehabilitating young offenders and reducing reoffending in Australia.
In order to successfully reintegrate into their communities and become productive members of society, it is imperative that young offenders are provided with comprehensive and effective education and skills programs. Fostering education and important life skills equips young offenders with the necessary “toolkit” with which they can effectively thrive in their communities. Particularly given the fact that many children in detention have come from underprivileged and educationally-disadvantaged backgrounds, many of them have not had the opportunity to build these skills prior to entering detention. It is crucial that youth detention centres provide young people with the necessary skills to thrive and flourish in society, so that they are not funnelled into a trajectory of poverty and criminalisation.
The potential of educational measures in counteracting the effects of disadvantage and risk factors among child offenders is well-established; the most positive results are seen in education programs with supportive staff that emphasise flexibility and individualised learning in order to encourage productive learning behaviours. In terms of addressing criminal behaviours, re-engagement with education is fundamental to reintegration of young offenders back into their communities.
At present, however, juvenile detention facilities in Australia too often fail to prioritise the education of detainees at the cost of risk management or operational factors. Solitary confinement and isolation-based policies frequently disrupt the delivery of educational programs, resulting in irregular attendance and reduced educational outcomes. It is clear that the provision of effective education programs is paramount in rehabilitating young offenders in detention; it is crucial that detention centres commit to prioritising these programs and eliminate obstacles to educational attainment, including isolationist practices.
It is clear that there are far better ways to address the needs of children in detention that do not result in such harm as incurred through practices akin to solitary confinement. Mental health and trauma-informed individualised care, the facilitation of support networks amongst family and community members, and the prioritisation of educational programs are fundamental to the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of youth offenders back into society.
Punitive isolationist measures not only impede the delivery of rehabilitative services but are inherently contradictory to the protection and care of children in detention. The youth justice system in Australia must commit to abolishing these practices from use, and prioritise alternatives that enable young people to flourish in their communities.
We call on advocates, professionals and organisations working in related areas to promote these alternatives and aid in our call for reform.