Marginalized children unfairly received Covid fines in New South Wales, with Indigenous, cognitively impaired, and homeless children being disproportionately targeted, a report revealed.
The fines issued, many exceeding the maximum limit in the NSW Children’s Court, led to financial hardship for disadvantaged families, as these kids lacked the means to pay them.
Furthermore, disadvantaged suburbs like Fairfield and Muswellbrook were over-policed compared to more advantaged areas like Northern Beaches and Ku-ring-gai.
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The report called for a reform in how children are treated in the justice system, advocating for police to adopt creative problem-solving approaches rather than issuing fines.
Commissioned by key legal organizations and undertaken by academics from leading universities, this research sheds light on the shortcomings of the state’s fine system, urging immediate changes to protect vulnerable children.
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