Out of Home Care
Executive Summary
Research shows a significant correlation between juvenile involvement in criminal activity, a history of abuse or neglect, and a history of being placed in care. Care experience and juvenile detention have been described as ‘key drivers of adult incarceration’. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are placed in care at a rate 11 times that of non-Indigenous children.
The psychological and emotional impacts of experiences of out-of-home care may include:
- low self-esteem;
- depression;
- fear;
- distrust;
- anger;
- shame and guilt; and
- difficulties forming and maintaining trust in relationships.
These impacts, including post-traumatic stress, may manifest in behaviours such as risk-taking; poor impulse control; resistance to boundaries (such as being absent from care without permission); stress intolerance; alcohol and other substance abuse; self-harming behaviours; social isolation; limited capacity to form relationships with peers and/or adults; sexually inappropriate, anti-social behaviour; and/or potentially criminal behaviour.
Experiences of out-of-home care have also been linked to poorer educational performance and greater risk of being suspended or expelled because of behavioural problems or truancy.
Care leavers often face limited employment opportunities which may result in a lifetime of financial hardship. Time spent in care has also been found to significantly increase a child’s chances of becoming homeless.
The potential relevance of evidence of experiences of out-of-home-care in sentencing proceedings includes an assessment of moral culpability; moderating the weight to be given to general deterrence; determining the weight to be given to specific deterrence and the protection of the community.
Note: Citations have been omitted from the text below. Click to access the PDF version of this Executive Summary at left to view a fully referenced version.