A judge told a long list of alleged teen criminals today he favoured rehabilitation instead of imprisonment.
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Judge Greg Macdonald heard cases of theft, alcohol abuse, unlicenced driving and trying to escape from police in hearings before Katherine's Juvenile Court today.
Judge Macdonald warned the teens, some as young as 14, to turn their behaviour around and "follow the rules".
In two cases of young offenders Judge Greg Macdonald was critical of imposing terms of imprisonment instead favouring rehabilitation.
"The law is we don't send people to prison unless we have no other options," Judge Greg Macdonald said.
"Your choice will be to change your ways or keep doing what you are doing otherwise you will spend a portion of your life in prison," Judge Greg Macdonald said in one case.
A young boy faced court today after being arrested on the weekend for multiple offences. He faces charges from other dates.
No charges were read to the court and the judge mentioned the arrests were the result of a recent police operation.
Judge Macdonald today released the boy on bail with a strict curfew between 8pm and 7am, he is due back in court on March 15.
"If the police find you anywhere other than your house between 8pm and 7am they will bring you in," Judge Macdonald said.
"You still have to go to school every day."
In another case, a 17-year-old youth admitted driving a motorcycle without a licence on Acacia Drive and disobeying police directions to stop.
Defence counsel claimed the youth had previously been before the court for domestic violence and drink driving and was subject to good behavior orders.
"He tells me there were arguments in the house and that is why he left, he was removing himself from the situation," the defence counsel said.
"He ultimately knows he should not be drinking alcohol… and says he has reduced his alcohol frequency.
"He is a person who doesn't have a male role model… and he looks after his grandmother."
Judge Macdonald was asked to take into consideration the one night the youth spent in the watchhouse.
Judge Macdonald said it was "time to please follow the law, or you will end up in prison."
"On the February 1 you breached your DVO and on January 31 you drove unlicensed and failed to stop when police asked you to," Judge Greg Macdonald said to the youth.
"You don't have the worst record and it is a positive in your case you have pleaded guilty.
"You know on the 31st of January police were asking you to stop and you were being a smart alec.
"I will be here for a long time and I will remember this case - you are running out of chances."
The youth was released on a good behavior bond and extended supervision.
He was also instructed to follow directions from Youth Outreach and Re-engagement Officers (YOREOs) and to complete his Community Development Program.
A 21-year-old man was released after his three month jail sentence was suspended for a year.
He also has to complete rehabilitation for a number of offences including driving a stolen car, driving away from police at an excessive speed and on another occasion, misbehaving in Woolworths.
His defence counsel said the man used drinking as a mental escape.
"His parents had alcohol and domestic violence issues. He was a witness of violence and alcohol use."
Judge Macdonald said rehabilitation would be the more suitable path for the man.
"You could have been killed, your friends could have been killed. Don't do it," Judge Macdonald said.
"You have just turned 21 and you acknowledge you need to go to Venndale to sort out your alcohol issues.
"You were at Woolworths drunk… the public shouldn't have to deal with that.
"Follow the rules and you won't end up back [in court]."
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