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I will definitely be using your company in the future if needed. Lisa kept me at ease also there were no grey areas with great advice. Helana is a great front of house.

- Client

My legal matter concerning an application for a Domestic Violence Order was managed by Mr Thomas Allen. I am grateful for the outcome he obtained. Without Mr Allen and his ongoing support, I would be certain of a different result. It has been an extremely stressful period. Mr Allen’s astute ability to liaise on my behalf and his expertise was invaluable and for which I am grateful as I am now able to move forward. Thanking you

- Client

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Armstrong Legal and specifically Mr Thomas Allen for representing me in my recent case. At the outset, I would like to thank Mr Allen for the very professional delivery of his legal service. From the first time that I met Mr Allen, I was very impressed with his demeanour and delivery as he made me feel at ease knowing the severity of my case. Mr Allen not only gave me the possible positive outcomes of the case but also the realisation of the worst-case scenario as far as sentencing goes. … I will certainly be recommending Armstrong Legal to any of my friends or family needing representation in criminal matters. Thank you so very much.

- Client

Thank you for your representation and help. Fingers crossed for the next step and parole. I just want to say that from the first phone call to your office, your service has been outstanding and have put my mind at ease. I am glad I picked your number to ring.

- Client

Thank you Armstrong Legal, the lawyers that have helped over the past 3 years but more importantly, thank you to Thomas Allen for the major part you and Mr Buckland played. Cannot thank you enough. Cheers.

- Client

Hi all. I would like to thank Ms Lisa Riley for all her help with my legal issues this past month. It was the most harrowing experience of my life and thanks to her expertise, professionalism and knowledge of the law, I came out almost unscathed. I have no hesitation in recommending Lisa Riley and Armstrong Legal if you need help. The service is amazing and the cost was very minimal for the great outcome. Thank you Lisa for helping me in the most difficult time.

- Client

I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. My whole life I was thrown away, you made me feel like I did mean something. I could not have asked for a better lawyer. Your compassion and love for your job is inspiring. Your upfront and honesty were muchly appreciated, you are a beautiful person. Thank you for not giving up on me and thank you for all the work you put in. I wish you all the best for the future and I will be recommending you to everyone I know. You're amazing!!!!

- Client

I just wanted to thank you for representing me on Monday, I was overjoyed & relieved with the outcome. I don’t think it could have gone any better. All the best, I hope you got to celebrate this one instead after work, you forever made a difference in my life.

I know I thanked you before we parted company but please allow me to reiterate in writing my sincere deepest thanks for defending me in court today. … Armstrong Legal certainly has a great Lawyer you are a credit to the company and I'm quite sure you will secure a very successful future! … My Kindest Regards and Thanks

- Client

Throughout Angela has been the consummate professional. She maintained a calm, yet strong demeanour remained informative and completely open in her communication and took complete ownership of the situation. We felt confident we finally had an advocate to steer us out of the nightmare we were in, and she did so with great respect and sincerity. I cannot speak more highly of Angela. She has literally rescued our family from what looked very much like a hopeless future.

- Client

Words can’t describe how grateful I am to Trudie Cameron being my solicitor and to Andrew Tiedt presenting my case in the court. They both have been very supportive and amazingly professional and effective. I’ve got an absolutely fantastic outcome I couldn’t even dream about.

- Client

Soon after meeting Andrew I knew he was the solicitor I wanted to handle my matter. He immediately sprang into action which brought me stability and hope during a tumultuous time in my life. Andrew was never afraid to give me straight answers to my tough questions which is a true mark of integrity. He is clearly at ease in the court environment and I believe his calm and measured demeanour went a long way to helping me secure the best result from my day in court. I would certainly recommend you approach Andrew if you need assistance.

- Client

"Andrew Tiedt was very professional and considerate to personal circumstances and gave sound advice that resulted in the best outcome possible. Highly recommended."

This article was written by Fernanda Dahlstrom - Content Editor - Brisbane

Fernanda Dahlstrom has a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. She has also completed a Master’s in Writing and Literature. Fernanda practised law for eight years, working in criminal defence, child protection and domestic violence law in the Northern Territory and in family law in Queensland.

Youth Detention

When a child aged between 10 and 18 is found guilty of a criminal offence in Western Australia they can be sentenced to a period of youth detention. Western Australia’s only youth detention centre is Banksia Hill Detention Centre. It houses both males and female who are being held on remand or have been sentenced to detention.

Age of criminal liability

Children below the age of 10 cannot be charged with criminal offences in Western Australia. Children between the ages of 10 and 14 can be found guilty of an offence only if the prosecution can show that the child had the capacity to distinguish right from wrong.

Detaining young people

The Young Offenders Act 1994 sets out how the Children’s Court must deal with young offenders. The act provides that children must be held in a facility that is suitable for young people and must not have contact with adult prisoners. It also states that children should only be detained as a last resort and for the shortest time necessary.

What happens in youth detention?

Detainees aged under 17 are required to attend school while in detention. Detainees who are 17 can choose to attend school or alternately, to take part in vocational training programs. Psychological and social development programs are also available for detainees who require them. Young people in detention also do recreational activities such as sports.

Banksia Hill Detention Centre allows detainees to receive visits every day during specified hours. Parents and guardians can visit anytime during those specified hours, up to four times a week. Friends and relatives must have written permission from the detainee’s parent or guardian prior to visiting. Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult who has been approved to visit the young person. Visitors are searched upon entering the centre as a security measure.

Young people at Banksia Hill are allowed to make phone calls to approved numbers and receive up to seven free phone calls per week. Phone calls to people other than parents or guardians have to be approved by a parent or guardian.

Human rights

Youth detention in Australia has caused controversy in recent years, following revelations of human rights abuses in the Northern Territory’s Don Dale Detention Centre in 2016. Children’s rights advocates have called for the age of criminal liability to be raised, arguing that the criminalisation of young children further disadvantages underprivileged social groups and increases the likelihood of the young person coming into the adult prison system later in life. The overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in detention centres has also been cited as an indictment on the Australian youth justice system. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 53 times more likely to be in youth detention than their non-Indigenous counterparts.

In 2018, a damning report on youth detention in Western Australia was released, revealing that one-third of youth detainees in Banksia Hill had foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and 90% had significant neurodevelopmental impairment. The researchers suggested these conditions may have contributed to the criminal offending of those young people and that if these conditions had been identified and treated at an earlier stage, the children may not have come into contact with the youth justice system. The report has added weight to calls for state governments to provide greater support and healthcare to marginalised young people, rather than responding punitively to delinquency.

If you require legal advice or representation in a criminal matter or in any other legal matter, please contact Armstrong Legal.

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