“Adult Time for Violent Crime”: Victoria Launches Massive Crackdown on Youth Offenders and Gang Leaders

VICTORIA: In a major shift for the state’s justice system, the Allan Labor Government has officially enacted the “Adult Time for Violent Crime” laws, fundamentally changing how the legal system handles serious youth offenders. Effective immediately, any individual aged 14 or older who commits a violent home invasion or carjacking will be sentenced as an adult, facing significantly harsher penalties in adult courts.

Increased Penalties and Community Safety

The new legislation marks a departure from previous sentencing limits. While the Children’s Court is capped at imposing a maximum jail sentence of three years for any offence, the County Court now has the authority to hand down sentences of up to 25 years for aggravated home invasion and carjacking.

Premier Jacinta Allan emphasised that the shift focuses on the gravity of the crime rather than the age of the perpetrator. “Under Adult Time for Violent Crime, the chance of jail is stronger, and sentences are longer,” Premier Allan stated. “We absolutely need serious consequences for violent youth crime to protect the community now.”

By moving these cases to adult courts, the legal process will place a higher premium on victim impact and community safety. Statistics provided by the government indicate that when youth offenders are sentenced in adult courts for violent crimes, the vast majority receive custodial sentences.

Fighting Gang Recruitment and Grooming

Recognising that enforcement is only one side of the coin, the government simultaneously announced a massive expansion of early intervention programs through the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU). A new $1 million anti-gang initiative, delivered by Think Village, will launch across the state to protect teenagers from being groomed into organised crime.

The program is designed to help families and educators identify the subtle signs of gang recruitment, particularly on social media, encrypted messaging apps, and gaming platforms.

“The VRU is protecting kids from organised crime gangs, and police are working to catch the evil ringleaders,” said Minister for Police Anthony Carbines. The unit utilizes evidence-based strategies that have seen significant success internationally, including:

• A 48% drop in violent crime in Scotland.
• A 28% decrease in knife crime injuries among young people in London.

The “Think Village” Approach

Think Village will deliver community workshops designed with local leaders to build a “support ecosystem” around at-risk youth. Joint CEOs Hanad Hersi and Mahamed Ahmed noted that the program is specialised to address the modern ways young people are drawn into violence—methods that often fly under the radar of adults.

Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny highlighted the dual-track strategy of the Labor government, contrasting it with opposition calls to cancel the VRU. “Our plan delivers both serious consequences and early interventions,” Kilkenny said. “These crime ringleaders deserve to face a life sentence, and the kids they prey on need help. We’ll deliver both.”

With the “Adult Time” laws now in effect and the VRU rolling out its digital and community campaigns, Victoria enters a new era of crime prevention aimed at breaking the cycle of violence before it starts while ensuring those who commit serious harm face the full weight of the law.

Source: State Government of Victoria