Justice advocacy group 'Change the Record' has condemned the Victorian government's plan to introduce "adult time for violent crime" legislation, which would see children as young as 14 tried, sentenced and imprisoned as adults.

Change the Record said on Thursday that the "dangerous" laws will "expose vulnerable children to longer, harsher sentences - including life imprisonment - and will disproportionately target First Nations children".

Change the Record CEO and Indigenous justice advocate Jade Lane said the state government's proposal "takes us in the wrong direction as a society".

"We must seek to help and nurture children at every opportunity, particularly vulnerable children at risk of contact with the criminal legal system. The Victorian government should be investing in First Nations-led, community-based solutions that are proven to address the underlying health, social and economic drivers of offending," she said.

"Our children are sacred. They are not political pawns, and their safety and well-being should never be traded for political clout. If the Allan Government was genuinely committed to improving justice outcomes, it would be investing in evidence-based strategies supporting children to thrive; not bending to sensationalist media headlines.

"Instead of reopening youth prisons and adopting Queensland's failed 'adult time' approach, the Victorian government should be focused on community-led prevention and early support programs that actually work; keeping kids connected to family, culture, and education."

Change the Record said a "toxic political and media narrative about youth crime" has "fuelled fear and panic, pushing the government into reactive, punitive policymaking rather than evidence-based reform".

The organisation noted that Victoria already has the highest youth imprisonment rates in years, with the government reopening the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre - closed just two years ago - to cope with a growing number of children in custody.

Victoria not meeting international best practice on youth justice

The age of criminal responsibility in the state remains at 12, falling short of human rights standards under international law and the United Nation's minimum recommendation of 14 years.

"These new laws mirror similarly harmful approaches in Queensland and the Northern Territory, where governments are doubling down on failed 'tough on crime' rhetoric instead of addressing the underlying causes of offending," Change the Record said in a statement.

The legislation will require amendments to the Crimes Act, the Children, Youth and Families Act, and the Youth Justice Act.

"We want the courts to treat these violent children like adults, so jail is more likely and sentences are longer," Premier Jacinta Allan said.

"Adult time for violent crime will mean more violent youth offenders going to jail, facing serious consequences."

Evidence shows locking up children does not make communities safer

Despite the Allan government commissioning an Expert Panel in 2024 to design an "Alternative Service Model" for 10- and 11-year-olds, the report remains unreleased.

"Decades of evidence show that locking up children does not make communities safer; it causes deeper harm, increases reoffending, and tears families apart," Ms Lade said.

"What works are First Nations-led, community-controlled programs that address poverty, trauma and exclusion from opportunity. These are the smarter, more humane, and more cost-effective strategies that governments should be prioritising."

Growing criticism of the plan

The government's plan has also been condemned by the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, the Human Rights Law Centre, VACCHO, the Greens, Shara Clarke Aboriginal Restorative Justice Services, 54 Reasons, Senator Lidia Thorpe, the Commission for Children and Young People, Jesuit Social Services, and the National Network for Incarcerated and Former Incarcerated Women and Girls.

Senator Thorpe has urged Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy to follow through on her commitment to impose sanctions on states and territories that undermine Closing the Gap targets, saying Victoria "must be put on notice" over the plan.