Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are substantially over-represented in the youth justice system in Australia. Although less than 5% of young people are Indigenous, almost 2 in 5 (39%) young people under youth justice supervision on an average day in 2011–12 were Indigenous. In detention, almost half (48%) were Indigenous. (Western Australia and the Northern Territory did not participate in the Juvenile Justice National Minimum Data Set during 2011–12. Where possible, estimates for these jurisdictions are included in the national totals. They are excluded from all state and territory comparisons.)
Indigenous young people aged 10–17 were almost 16 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 just over two times in Tasmania, to 18 times in New South Wales and 19 times in the Australian Capital Territory.
Indigenous over-representation was greatest in detention. Indigenous young people aged 10–17 were 15 times as likely as non-Indigenous young people to be under community-based supervision, but almost 25 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 13% of non-Indigenous young people.
Indigenous young people who completed at least one period of supervision during 2011–12 were more likely to complete multiple periods than non-Indigenous young people (20% compared with 13%). They also spent about 2 weeks longer, in total, under supervision during the year (197 days, on average, compared with 183).