Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are substantially over-represented in the juvenile justice system in Australia. On an average day in 2010–11, almost 40% of young people under juvenile justice supervision were Indigenous. (Western Australia and the Northern Territory did not participate in the Juvenile Justice National Minimum Data Set during 2010–11. Where possible, estimates for these jurisdictions are included in national totals.)
Indigenous young people aged 10–17 were 15 times as likely as non-Indigenous young people to be under supervision on an average day. This over-representation occurred in all states and territories, ranging from 3 times in Tasmania to more than 18 times in New South Wales.
Indigenous over-representation was greatest in detention. Indigenous young people aged 10–17 were 14 times as likely as non-Indigenous young people to be under community-based supervision, but 24 times as likely to be in detention.
Indigenous young people under supervision were younger, on average, than non-Indigenous young people. Almost 25% of those under supervision on an average day were aged 10–14, compared with 14% of non-Indigenous young people.
Indigenous young people also tended to first enter supervision at younger ages: 35% of those under supervision during 2010–11 entered when they were aged 10–13, compared with just 15% of non-Indigenous young people.
There were differences in the amount of time Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people spent under supervision. When all periods of supervision are considered, Indigenous young people spent more time, on average, in community-based supervision (13 days more) and unsentenced detention (9 days more) during 2010–11, but less time in sentenced detention (6 fewer days).