NCJ Number
137463
Date Published
1992
Length
35 pages
Annotation
A database that makes it possible to track a juvenile offender's crime history over time was used to compare youths born in 1962 with those born in 1972; results revealed that one- fifth of South Australian children appeared before a Children's Court or Aid Panel during their adolescence.
Abstract
The database has been maintained by the South Australian Department for Family and Community Services since 1972. The data gathered through 1990 showed that 25.6 percent of the boys born in 1962 and 29 percent of those born in 1972 had court or panel appearances during adolescents. A total of 10.1 percent of the girls born in 1962 and 12.6 percent of those born in 1972 had such appearances. Fifty-five percent of the Aboriginal youth had contact with the juvenile justice system, compared with 21 percent of the total youth population. Sixty-nine percent of the 1962 cohort and 65 percent of the 1972 cohort had only one appearance. Fourteen was the most common age of first appearance. Less than 1 percent of the juvenile population was involved in a serious crime of violence. Tables, figures, and appended methodological information and list of publications from the same organization are included.