If your child has been charged with a serious offence in Queensland, the law that applies to them may be very different from the law that applied just two years ago. Queensland’s “Adult Crime, Adult Time” reforms have fundamentally changed how the courts sentence young people for certain offences — and the consequences are now far more severe.
These changes move quickly and they are confronting for any parent or young person facing the system. If you’re in hot water, you need to understand exactly what you are dealing with. Our Brisbane and Gold Coast criminal lawyers have appeared in thousands of court matters, including youth justice proceedings, and we can help you navigate what is now one of the toughest sentencing regimes in the country.
What Is “Adult Crime, Adult Time” in Queensland?
“Adult Crime, Adult Time” is the name given to a series of reforms introduced through the Making Queensland Safer Act 2024 (Qld) and later expanded by the Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Act 2025 (Qld). Both Acts amend the Youth Justice Act 1992 (Qld), which is the legislation that governs how children are dealt with in the criminal justice system.
In plain English, the reforms mean that a child who is convicted of a prescribed serious offence can now be sentenced to the same maximum, mandatory, and minimum penalties as an adult who commits the same offence. The Queensland Government has expanded these laws so that 47 youth crime offences are now captured.
This is a significant departure from how youth justice has historically worked in Queensland, where the focus was on rehabilitation and keeping young people out of detention wherever possible.
Which Offences Are Covered?
The prescribed offences are serious. They include murder, manslaughter, grievous bodily harm, wounding, dangerous operation of a vehicle, robbery, burglary, and the unlawful use of motor vehicles, among others. The 2025 amendments added further offences, including attempted murder, rape, attempted rape, torture, aggravated attempted robbery, and trafficking in dangerous drugs.
The penalties attached to these offences have increased dramatically for young people. For example, murder now carries mandatory life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 20 years, doubled from the previous 10 years. Grievous bodily harm now carries a maximum of 14 years imprisonment, doubled from 7 years.
If your child is facing any allegation of this kind, it is vitally important you seek legal advice as soon as possible. The difference between a charge under one provision and another can be the difference between a community-based order and many years in custody.
What Else Has Changed in Youth Sentencing?
The reforms go beyond increasing penalties. Two long-standing sentencing principles have been removed. When sentencing a young offender, the court can no longer treat detention as a last resort, and can no longer treat a non-custodial order as better than detention for a child’s reintegration into the community.
The courts must now also place the impact on the victim as the primary consideration when sentencing a young person. In addition, courts can take into account a young person’s full childhood criminal history, including police cautions and restorative justice agreements, when making sentencing decisions.
There is also a major change for young people who turn 18 while in custody. Offenders who turn 18 are now transferred to an adult correctional facility within one month, regardless of whether they are on remand or have been sentenced. These are the kinds of consequences families often do not realise until it is too late.
How Our Team Can Help
We understand how frightening this is. A young person who makes a mistake should not have their entire future written off, and our role is to make sure their side of the story is heard and that every available avenue is explored.
Depending on the facts, that work can include challenging the evidence, identifying procedural failings by police, negotiating with the prosecution to have charges reduced or withdrawn, and building a strong case for the most favourable sentencing outcome possible. The availability and strength of any defence depends on the specific facts of the case, which is why early advice matters so much.
Our criminal law team brings extensive criminal law experience and uncompromising dedication to every youth matter. We also encourage families to read our related coverage on the youth justice reforms and on how to apply for bail in Queensland, as bail is often the first and most urgent issue in these cases.
Don’t Wait — Speak to Us Now
When a young person is charged with a serious offence in Queensland, every day counts. The longer you delay seeking legal help, the more limited your options can become. Best recommendation: talk to us now. Worst thing to do: do nothing.
If your child has been charged in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast, or anywhere in Queensland, contact Hannay Criminal Defence today for a free initial consultation. Call our Brisbane office on (07) 3063 9799 or our Gold Coast office on (07) 5571 2555, or get in touch with our team to discuss your situation in confidence.
This information is general in nature and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Your circumstances are unique, and you should seek tailored legal advice from an experienced criminal lawyer. Contact Hannay Criminal Defence for advice specific to your situation.
