The Victorian Children’s Court released an alleged teenage member of an arson gang on the street, on a youth supervision order. This teenager has been locked up again, this time accused of bashing an off-duty Victoria Police officer.

Retired Victorian magistrate, former Legal Aid Victoria managing director and former Victorian Drug Court supervising magistrate Tony Parsons told Tom Elliott youth offenders should be provided with an opportunity for reform.

“If there is an intervention that the courts can develop … that will turn those people away from crime, early on, the gamble is worth taking because putting kids in jail isn’t a long-term solution,” Parsons said.

Press PLAY to hear why he believes this early intervention is so important

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