19Guiding youth justice principle—prevention, diversion and minimum intervention

19 Guiding youth justice principle—prevention, diversion and minimum intervention

Responses to offending and alleged offending by children and young persons are to emphasise prevention, diversion and minimum intervention by—

(a) ensuring that the child or young person is subject to the minimum intervention that is necessary and appropriate in the circumstances with any deprivation of liberty being a last resort and for the minimum period appropriate; and

(b) giving priority to diverting the child or young person away from the criminal justice system and supporting efforts at early intervention to address the causes of offending behaviour; and

(c) ensuring that a criminal proceeding is not commenced against the child or young person if there are other appropriate means of dealing with the child's behaviour or the young person's behaviour, unless the public interest requires otherwise.

Section 92(1) establishes the hierarchy of options for alleged offending behaviour by a child. The hierarchy requires a police officer to apply the least restrictive option that is appropriate in the circumstances.