NCJ Number
243078
Date Published
April 2013
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This report presents an overview of data for 2011-12 on juveniles under youth justice supervision in Australia.
Abstract
On an average day in 2011-12, there were approximately 7,000 youth ages 10 and older under youth justice supervision in Australia because of their proven or alleged involvement in crime. Most (83 percent) were male, and 79 percent were ages 14-17. Indigenous youth were over-represented; although less than 5 percent of Australian youth are Indigenous, 39 percent of those under supervision were Indigenous. Eighty-six percent of the youth were supervised in the community on an average day, and the remaining 14 percent were in detention; however, 41 percent were in detention at some time during the year. The median duration of supervision was about 11 weeks. Some youth had more than one-supervision period during the year. Total time spent under supervision averaged 6 months. Nationally, the rates of youth ages 10-17 under supervision on an average day remained relatively stable, i.e, approximately 26-27 per 10,000 over the 4 years preceding 2011-12. This stability was reflected in both community-based supervision and detention. There were differences in trends, however, among Australia's States and Territories. Between 2008-09 and 2011-12, rates of youth under supervision on an average day increased in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory and decreased in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania. Information was not available for Western Australia and the Northern Territory. 9 figures, 2 tables, and 9 figures