NCJ Number
236644
Date Published
2009
Length
135 pages
Annotation
This report from the Australian Institute of Criminology presents data on juveniles' contact with the Australian criminal justice system as both alleged/convicted offenders and complainants.
Abstract
Major findings from this report include: juveniles comprised 13 percent of all homicide victims during the 18 year period from 1989-90 to 2006-07; for the same period, the annual number of homicides involving a juvenile victim has remained stable at between 30 to 53; while males comprised a majority of alleged juvenile offenders, they comprised only about half of all juvenile complainants; child protection substantiations were issued equally for male and female children, with female children receiving the most substantiations for sexual abuse; a disproportionately high number of Indigenous juveniles came into contact with the police; most alleged juvenile offenders were between the ages of 15 to 17 years, with the most common crime being property offenses; and 96 percent of juvenile defendants in the country's children's courts were convicted of their alleged offense, and 92 percent of convicted juveniles were sentenced to non-custodial penalties. This report from the Australian Institute of Criminology presents data on juveniles' contact with the Australian criminal justice system. The data is presented for both alleged/convicted offenders and complainants/victims in the territories and States of New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. The primary focus of the report is to outline data from each jurisdiction on juveniles' contact with the police, courts, and correctional systems. Tables, figures, and references