NCJ Number
233454
Date Published
2010
Length
67 pages
Annotation
This report from the Australian Institute of Criminology details juvenile detention rates for the period 1981-2008.
Abstract
Key findings from this report include: between 1981 and 2008, the number of juveniles in detention decreased 38 percent, yet a steady increase in the numbers has been reported since 2004; the rate of juvenile detentions decreased from 65 per 100,000 in 1981 to 25 per 100,000 in 2002, and then increased to 37 per 100,000 for 2008; since 1981, male juvenile detentions declined 31 percent and female juvenile detentions declined 70 percent, with an increase in both seen since 2004; in 2008, Indigenous juveniles were 24 times more likely to be in detention than non-Indigenous juveniles; in 2007-08, 38 percent of juveniles found guilty of their offense received non-custodial orders; and the most frequent offense for which juveniles were sentenced to detention was unlawful entry with intent (32 percent). Data for this report were obtained from the Australian Institute of Criminology's Juveniles in Detention Monitoring Program dataset. The dataset contains data on the number of young persons in juvenile detention on the last day of each quarter from 1981 through June 2008. Data are collected on six variables: sex, gender, Indigenous status, legal status (remanded or sentenced), jurisdiction, and quarterly census date. The information in this report is intended to document changes in juvenile detention over the time period from 1981 through 2008, and to provide a statistical overview for fiscal year 2007-08. In addition, the report contributes to existing knowledge regarding the numbers and rates of Indigenous youth placed into detention. Tables, figures, and references