Prisons boss calls for ‘healing-rehabilitation centres’ for crime-spree kids

A former prison chief has called for “healing rehab centers” for delinquent children to prevent a “massive social disaster” in the wake of the alleged murder of a mother.

Keith Hamburger, 78, a former director general of the then Queensland Correctional Services Commission, said the prison system’s current approaches could only lead to “terrible, terrible things” in the years to come.

Hamburger was speaking after two 17-year-olds were charged with the murder of mother Emma Lovell.

Ms Lovell was stabbed to death during an alleged home invasion on Boxing Day, and her death sparked public outrage.

Keith Hamburger spoke out after two 17-year-old boys were charged with the murder of mother Emma Lovell

Prime Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk vowed to crack down on crime following the murder, revealing plans to increase punishments and build two new youth detention centers in Queensland.

But Hamburger criticized the plans and called for a “reset” in the way Australia deals with crime.

Instead, he advocated for “healing and rehabilitation” centers to replace juvenile detention centers.

Hamburger said the plan would ensure that no children are behind bars in the state.

A reception center would be used to process juvenile offenders, rather than a police station.

If a criminal is found guilty, he will be sent to the healing and rehabilitation center.

Although they would be monitored and manned around the clock, Hamburger says they would be designed to look less like a prison.

He said they would be small to allow individual minors to be cared for and have opportunities to learn and develop.

The former head of prisons said the cost of the centers would be offset by reducing the costs of operating the detention centers.

“They just have to understand that we are dealing with a massive social disaster and there needs to be a reset,” he said. the aussie.

Mr. Hamburger advocated for “healing and rehabilitation” centers to replace juvenile detention centers.

“I think it is extremely urgent because more people are going to die. I mean, just one person dying is horrendous as we’ve seen with this latest case.

“But we are going to have multiple deaths, terrible, terrible things in the next few years if the government does not listen to reason. I’m tired of trying to get heard, so if a real commission is needed, so be it. Maybe then they will listen.

Another former prison chief, former prison services commissioner Mark Rallings, who served under Palaszczuk, backed Hamburger.

He said on Friday: ‘Our approach to corrections is simply wrong. Worse than that, it’s counterproductive; worse than that, it’s criminogenic.

“Keith’s model is really about saying, let’s keep some high-security prisons for those who really warrant it, but let’s also see a focus on a rehabilitation approach, a healing approach for the rest of the prisoners.”

A government spokesman said Hamburger had met with officials from the Attorney General’s office and the Department of Children, Juvenile Justice and Multicultural Affairs.

He has also met with Correctional Services Commissioner Paul Stewart.