SIX Copperfield College students are planning to push for alternatives to jail time for juveniles in trouble with the law.
The Delahey students will debate the proposal during next month’s YMCA Youth Parliament.
Team spokeswoman Claudia Ralevski said the students believed there were more effective alternatives to the current justice system for children.
“We believe the state should not implement criminal convictions against children, especially if it will ultimately have a negative impact on the rest of their lives in terms of schooling and vocational opportunities,” she said.
“Young children should not be put in a negative environment where they are detained and forced to have a criminal conviction for the rest of their lives.”
The group also wants the implementation of a statewide counselling program for young offenders.
“Taking them back to the scene of the crime and questioning why they committed it would be more effective than locking them up and giving them a criminal conviction that stays with them into their adulthood,” Claudia said.
Youth parliamentarians recently attended a training weekend in Bacchus Marsh, giving them the chance to learn about issues brought forward by other teams.
They took part in public speaking and media training and learned about parliamentary etiquette.
More than 20 Youth Parliament bills have become law. They include banning containers made of glass in licensed venues and making the morning-after pill available over the counter.
Students will debate their bill at Parliament House in Spring Street from July 2-5.
