Local legal services have heavily criticised a new state government youth justice reform package which will see children 14 years and over facing life imprisonment for serious crimes.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny announced the bold new bill set to be introduced to parliament this year imposing “adult time for violent crime”.

The implemented changes are set to significantly increase both the likelihood of a child being sent to jail and the length of their jail sentence for a range of serious offending.

For certain violent crimes, sentencing will be taken out of the Children’s Court and carried out in the adult County Court, with the government planning to bring in a maximum of life imprisonment for aggravated home invasion and carjacking.

The maximum jail sentence that can be imposed in the Children’s Court is three years for any offence.

Other crimes including intentionally causing injury in circumstances of gross violence, recklessly causing injury, aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery will be subject to the sentencing changes.

Ms Allan said there were too many victims across the state and not enough consequences.

“We want courts to treat these violent children like adults, so jail is more likely and sentences are longer,” she said.

“This will mean more violent youth offenders going to jail, facing serious consequences.”

The proposed changes have been met with backlash from the local legal community, including the state’s own government funded body.

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) have expressed deep concern with the changes, saying young people who are imprisoned are more likely to reoffend than those who receive community-based support and other interventions.

VLA Ovens Murray deputy managing lawyer Glenn Moody said putting children in adult courts went against everything they knew about children’s chances for rehabilitation.

“Most young people we see, including here in the Ovens Murray region, have grown up in unstable environments,” he said.

“If we ignore the real problems, like neglect, abuse and mental health, then we are just punishing the symptoms instead of fixing what is actually wrong.”

Hume Riverina Community Legal Service released a statement to this masthead which said instead of the current youth sentencing reforms, the government should invest in what works

“Early intervention services and supports for families and young people that are culturally safe, evidence-based, and trauma-informed - approaches that reduce harm and enhance community safety,” the statement read.

Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy said action was overdue in youth justice reform, even though the level of violent youth crime wasn’t something that was seen as often in our local communities compared to Melbourne.

“We can’t wait until it reaches our doorstep, stronger action and accountability are needed right across Victoria,” he said.

“No one wants to see kids behind bars, but when 14-year-olds are committing violent home invasions and machete attacks, something has gone terribly wrong.”

Mr McCurdy said the influx of crime seen across the state won’t be fixed by this approach only and implored for extensive changes to ensure Victorian families feel safe in their home and local streets.