Wacol Youth Remand Centre Archives

Queensland Opens Wacol Youth Remand Centre for Young Offenders

The Wacol Youth Remand Centre has officially opened, marking a significant step in addressing Queensland’s strained youth detention system. The new facility aims to reduce the number of young offenders held in watchhouses while providing essential rehabilitation and support services.

Read: Wacol Youth Remand Centre Set for Completion in Mid-2025

The 76-bed facility boasts advanced security management systems and offers access to education, vocational training, rehabilitation programs, healthcare, and other support services. The centre is designed not only to ensure consequences for youth crime but also to foster rehabilitation and prevent reoffending.

Inside one of the rooms at the Wacol Youth Remand Centre (Photo credit: LauraGerberMP/Facebook)

Young offenders will be transferred to the facility, many of whom face charges under Queensland’s new “Adult Crime, Adult Time” laws. These laws impose stricter penalties on youth offenders for serious crimes, including:

Murder: Mandatory life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 20 years (previously 10 years).
Manslaughter and acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm: Maximum life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 15 years (previously 10 years, or life for particularly heinous cases).
Unlawful striking causing death: Maximum life imprisonment, with parole eligibility after serving 80 per cent of the sentence or 15 years (previously 10 years, or life for particularly heinous cases).
Grievous bodily harm: Maximum 14 years imprisonment (doubled from 7 years).
Wounding and serious assault: Maximum 7 years imprisonment (doubled from 3.5 years).
Dangerous operation of a vehicle: Maximum 3 years imprisonment or 200 penalty points (previously 1.5 years if sentenced by a judge).

The centre is expected to play a key role in halting the cycle of youth crime by providing access to comprehensive rehabilitation, education, and medical services. Queensland’s Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support, Laura Gerber, reinforced the government’s commitment to balancing strict sentencing with effective rehabilitation.

“Youth who choose to commit the most serious crimes will serve the time under ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time.’ But with effective early intervention and intensive rehabilitation programs, we are giving them the best chance to turn their lives around,” Minister Gerber stated.

Read: Development Application Lodged for Wacol Warehouse Complex

The opening of the Wacol Youth Remand Centre signifies a firm stance on youth crime while ensuring that offenders have access to the necessary programs to reintegrate successfully into society.

Published 31-March-2025

Wacol Youth Remand Centre Set for Completion in Mid-2025

Construction of the Wacol Youth Remand Centre, a facility designed to tackle overcrowding in Queensland’s youth detention system, is now set for completion in mid-2025.

Addressing an Urgent Need

Originally projected for completion by December 2024, the timeline for the Wacol Youth Remand Centre has been adjusted to accommodate detailed planning and ensure it meets the demands of the state’s youth justice system. The centre will provide much-needed detention space for young offenders, easing the strain on police watchhouses and other detention centres across Queensland.

The Wacol facility is a response to increasing youth crime and the resulting pressure on the state’s detention infrastructure. Reports indicate that current facilities are operating near capacity, with police watchhouses often holding young offenders for extended periods. This new centre aims to relieve those pressures by providing secure, purpose-built detention beds for young people awaiting court outcomes.

Part of a Larger Strategy

The centre is one of several planned developments to address the state’s youth detention challenges. Additional centres, including a 50-bed remand facility at Woodford expected to be ready in 2027 and another in Cairns with an unspecified timeline, are also in the pipeline.

Until these centres become operational, Wacol will serve as a vital stopgap measure to manage the growing population of youth offenders in detention.

The facility’s location near existing detention centres ensures that resources can be shared efficiently, and detainees will benefit from nearby rehabilitation services. This strategic positioning is expected to enhance the overall effectiveness of Queensland’s youth justice system.

Focus on Rehabilitation

The Wacol Youth Remand Centre programs will include education, mental health support, and cultural activities, addressing the root causes of youth crime. Authorities stress the importance of these services in helping young people turn their lives around while ensuring the safety of the community.

Young offenders detained at the Wacol facility will have access to Queensland Education programs, vocational training, and counselling services. These efforts aim to prepare detainees for reintegration into society and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

Managing Challenges and Expectations

The news comes amidst ongoing concerns about detention overcrowding, particularly during peak periods like the holiday season. Some have questioned whether the bed capacity will be sufficient to meet the demands of new laws targeting youth offending. However, officials maintain that the facility will provide much-needed relief and is a significant step toward improving the youth justice framework.

While delays are inevitable in such projects, those overseeing the development remain confident that the Wacol centre will have a meaningful impact on both detention capacity and rehabilitation outcomes.

Published 13-January-2025

Wacol Youth Remand Centre Progresses Toward 2024 Completion

Photo Credit: Queensland Police/Facebook Video

Did you know that the Wacol Youth Remand Centre, a facility that aims to provide better shelter for the youth in detention and rehabilitation, will be completed by late 2024?

With the Queensland Police Service (QPS) spearheading the construction process that began in late 2023, the Wacol Youth Remand Centre is a few months away from being ready to house youth being held in watchhouses on remand.

Initially envisioned to have 50 beds, QPS has expanded the centre’s capacity to 76 beds to ensure that more young individuals will have access to the support and services they need while in custody at the Wacol Police Complex.

The centre’s strategic co-location with Brisbane and West Moreton youth detention facilities allows youth access to essential services including education, healthcare, counselling, and open-air exercise areas for recreational activities.

The Wacol Youth Remand Centre, operated by the Department of Youth Justice, will house youth in custody until new youth centres in Cairns and Woodford open.

The decision to fast-track construction and consolidate the project into a single stage is part of the State’s dedication to addressing youth crime and promoting community safety.

Rapid-build methodologies have driven progress, allowing the facility to take shape swiftly while maintaining high quality and safety standards.

In a statement to media, Premier Steven Miles said that the government will continue to invest in the prevention, intervention and detention programs that work.

“With more Police and targeted high visibility police operations taking place around the state, we are seeing an increase in arrests and offenders in custody,” he said.

“The Wacol Remand Facility will act as additional remand capacity while two new youth detention centres are built, to minimise the time young people are held in watchhouses on remand.”

“With its close proximity to the Wacol Police Complex, young people will have access to the education, health care and rehabilitation services needed to get back on the right path,” he added.

Published 8-April-2024