203Sentencing principle—rehabilitation and positive development

203 Sentencing principle—rehabilitation and positive development

A sentence imposed on a child should give the highest priority to the rehabilitation and positive development of the child, including by—

(a) preserving and strengthening the child's relationship with the child's parents, family and persons of significance in the child's life; and

(b) supporting the child to live at home, or in safe, stable and secure living arrangements in the community; and

(c) promoting the social and emotional wellbeing of the child through responses that—

(i) develop the child's strengths; and

(ii) address any underlying issues that may contribute to the child's offending behaviour; and

(d) promoting the child's access to and participation in education, training or work, and allowing education, training or work to continue with minimal interruption or disturbance; and

(e) promoting the participation of the child in other activities that will support the child's positive development, including community, recreation and sport, music, and artistic activities; and

(f) minimising any stigma resulting from the sentence; and

(g) recognising that children often have limited control over their environment and having regard to the important role that public service bodies, public entities, Victoria Police, non-government organisations and the community can fulfil to collaboratively support the child's successful completion of the sentence.

S. 204 amended by No. 54/2025 s. 12.