The Department for Families and Communities (DFC) is now the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI). Families SA, including the child protection and family support functions, is now part of the new Department for Education and Child Development. Youth Justice remains with DCSI and the Department now includes Multicultural SA, Northern Connections, Office for the Southern Suburbs, Office for Volunteers, Office for Women, Office for Youth and Social Inclusion. Contact details for these offices are available on the Contacts page.

The department is currently reviewing its online information and updates are in progress. Departmental information can still be found using the search function on this site. For more information about South Australian government services please visit www.sa.gov.au.

Children in trouble with the law

Last Updated Dec 2008

People who are younger than 18 years of age but older than 10 years of age and who are in trouble with the law are dealt with by the youth justice system. People under 10 years of age are not charged with a criminal offence.

If a child has come into contact with the law and you think that they need legal advice, you can access a range of legal services via the Legal Services Commission of South Australia.
If a child has been informally or formally cautioned and you require further information, you should contact SA Police.
Family conferences divert matters away from the court. They are convened by youth justice coordinators when a youth admits the commission of a 'minor offence'. If a child is required to attend a family conference, you can access further information via the SA Courts site.
If a child has been placed on an order by the Youth Court to be under the direction of Families SA, you should contact your local Families SA district centre.

For more information about crime and justice for young people, see Crime and justice.