Young people returning to sentenced youth justice supervision 2023–24

Of the 1,942 young people aged 10–16 released from a community-based supervised sentence in 2022–23, 761 (39%) returned to sentenced supervision within 6 months and 1,082 (56%) within 12 months (Figure 2.2). The return rate within:

• 6 months fluctuated over the 10 years from 2013–14, with a low of 34% in 2019–20 and a peak of 40% in 2017–18, 2020–21 and 2021–22
• 12 months also fluctuated, with a low of 49% in 2019–20 and a peak of 58% in 2017–18 (Figure 2.2).

Figure 2.2: Young people released from sentenced supervision in 2022–23 who were returned within 6 and 12 months, by type of supervision

Notes:

1. Data relate to young people aged 10–16 at the time of release, to allow a 12-month follow-up period.
2. Data for young people who were returned within 12 months includes young people who were returned within 6 months.
3. Northern Territory data was not available for young people released from sentenced supervision in 2022–23.

Source: Supplementary table S9.

Of the 309 young people aged 10–16 who were released from sentenced detention in 2022–23, 216 (70%) returned to sentenced supervision within 6 months and 260 (84%) within 12 months (Figure 2.2). The return rate within:

• 6 months fluctuated over the 10 years from 2013–14, with a low of 61% in 2017–18 and 2018–19, and a peak of 71% in 2021–22
• 12 months was relatively stable between 2013–14 and 2019–20, with a peak of 85% in 2020–21 and 2021–22 (Figure 2.3).

The proportion of young people released from sentenced supervision who returned within 12 months varied significantly by state and territory (Figure 2.4). The return rate for smaller jurisdictions should be interpreted with caution due to small numbers of young people.