The Queensland Government has launched the new court initiative in Mount Isa to tackle the underlying causes of offending.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D'Ath launched Court Link Mount Isa, a program based on individual case management and monitoring at the Mount Isa Court House on Tuesday January 21.

"One of the best ways to keep the community safe is to address the underlying causes of offending while seeking to prevent people from re-offending," Ms D'Ath said.

"Court Link Mount Isa now gives eligible defendants access to a range of support services while they're on bail, for up to 12 weeks.

"Participants get regular meetings with their case managers and specialised service providers, with judicial monitoring through regular court appearances.

"Homelessness, employment, health issues and substance use are just some of the factors which contribute to offending, and we're determined to tackle these causes head on."

Ms D'Ath said the cost of crime impacts significantly on the criminal justice system and community, socially and economically.

"These impacts are further exacerbated when defendants continue to re-offend," she said.

"We need to ensure that those who are experiencing issues that may contribute to their offending are properly supported while they are on bail awaiting trial."

State MP for Traeger Robbie Katter said he hoped Court Link focuses more on the back end of sentencing rather than the front end.

"If this comes down to treating criminal behaviour then I would rather see the government focus on the need for a prison in Mount Isa," Mr Katter said.

When questioned on other possible solutions to youth crime the Attorney-General said the government was not considering relocation sentencing.

"Relocation sentencing has been tried in the past and all it does is shift the problem," Ms D'Ath said.

"Every community I go to I have magistrates tell me that if we work with the families that have youth crime we can achieve positive results.

"You can't just send people away and think that it's going to solve all of your problems.

"What I am hearing from Mount Isa is that a lot of the youth crime is committed by people that are from other towns and not actually Mount Isa individuals," she said.

Ms D'Ath was unaware of a bilateral policing agreement between the Northern Territory and Queensland to curb out-of-towners committing crimes but was open to discussion on it.

Robbie Katter said Queensland was the only state not to share police resources with the Northern Territory.

"All we have to stop people escaping alcohol bans and crossing the boarder is a few police officers who aren't working together, we need cross boarder checks.

"But we simply don't have enough resources to treat the North West, the Gulf and even the Northern Territory."

Read Also: Locals voice their opinion on ways to solve Mount Isa's youth crime crisis

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