Stories of young people in the justice system.

Watch and read inspiring stories from young people with lived experience of the youth justice system who turned their lives around after being given a second chance.

Charles’ Story

I went into Resi care when I was about 15. I had a pretty bad home life and my parents asked me to move out because I was a bad influence on my little brother. I got locked up because I was getting drunk and doing property damage and shop lifting while I was drunk. When I had to go to court, it was the worst experience of my life.

Ignatius’s Story

I won’t blame friends or anything, you know, because it’s all individual choice but just things I saw, things I grew up with… I saw a lot of fights, in a lot of fights there’s a lot of blood, people getting knocked out. You see that young and you kind of get that desensitized to that stuff.

Harry’s Story

I didn’t have a home from around the age of 14. My relationship with my family wasn’t that good. I went to the custody centre and then to MAP (Melbourne Assessment Prison) way too young. There was like people like 30, 40 , 50 (years old)… it was pretty scary because I didn’t know what was going to happen.

RON’s STory

I went to Pentridge when I was only 17. It was a very scary place. I was only of slight build and so I learned very quickly to adapt to the violence but also to stay strong. I think what’s important for young people is to have someone they can turn to… where they can convey some of their feelings and thoughts.