Youth justice in Australia 2024–25

On an average day in 2024–25, 81% (3,358) of young people aged 10 and over under supervision were supervised in the community (Tables S35a and S7a).

Of those under community-based supervision on an average day aged 10 and over, about 1 in 5 (21%) were on unsentenced orders and more than 8 in 10 (82%) were on a sentenced order (Table S64a).

A total of 8,301 young people were under community-based supervision at some time during the year (Table S64b).

Young people who are supervised in the community may be on unsentenced or sentenced orders, and may be on multiple orders of different types at the same time. Community-based supervision may be interrupted by time spent in detention due to another offence or a breach of a supervised release or parole order. 

In this chapter, proportions should be interpreted with caution, especially in the smaller jurisdictions as they may represent a very small number of young people.

Unsentenced community-based supervision

Unsentenced community-based supervision orders include supervised bail (also known as conditional bail) and other orders such as home detention bail. 

Supervised or conditional bail refers to the release of a young person into the community while awaiting the outcome of court action and may include conditions such as supervision, a curfew or a monetary bond. Information about unsupervised bail is not available in the YJ NMDS.

In 2024–25, 21% of young people aged 10 and over who were under community-based supervision on an average day were on unsentenced orders (Figure 5.1; Table S64a).

Almost 1 in 5 (20%) First Nations young people aged 10 and over who were under community-based supervision on an average day were on unsentenced orders (Table S64a).

Nearly 1 in 4 (23%) of non-Indigenous young people who were under community-based supervision on an average day were on unsentenced orders (Table S64a).  

Among the states and territories, the proportion of young people under community-based supervision on an average day who were unsentenced ranged from 10% in New South Wales to 68% in the Australian Capital Territory (Table S64a).

Nationally, about 2 in 5 (42%) young people aged 10 and over who were under community‑based supervision during 2024–25 were on unsentenced community-based orders at some point during the year (Table S64b). About 1 in 2 (45%) First Nations young people aged 10 and over were on unsentenced community-based orders at some point during the year (Table S64b). For non-Indigenous young people, this statistic was 39%. The difference between the proportion on an average day and during the year reflects the relatively short duration of unsentenced orders compared with sentenced orders.

The national rate of young people aged 10–17 under unsentenced community-based supervision on an average day was 2.1 per 10,000 (Table S66a). Among the states and territories, rates ranged from 0.9 per 10,000 in New South Wales to 4.6 per 10,000 in South Australia (Figure 5.2; Table S66a).

The rate of young people aged 12–17 under unsentenced community-based supervision on an average day in the Australian Capital Territory was 8.8 per 10,000 (Table S66a).

The national rate of First Nations young people aged 10–17 in unsentenced community-based supervision on an average day was 18 per 10,000 (Table S66a). For the states and territories with data available, the rate ranged from 8.6 per 10,000 in New South Wales to 51 per 10,000 in South Australia (Table S66a).

For non-Indigenous young people, the national rate was 1.1 per 10,000, which ranged from 0.3 per 10,000 in New South Wales to 1.9 per 10,000 in South Australia (Table S66a). 

The rate of First Nations young people aged 12–17 in unsentenced community-based supervision in the Australian Capital Territory was 98 per 10,000. For non-Indigenous young people, the rate was 5.8 per 10,000 (Table S66a). 

Note that rates in the Australian Capital Territory for 2024–25 following the increase to the minimum age of criminal responsibility are not directly comparable with rates prior to 2023–24.

Community-based supervision orders may end because:

• the specified term was successfully completed 
• a sentence was handed down (for unsentenced community-based supervision, such as bail, only), or 
• for other reasons, including because the young person breached the conditions of the order, or the order was varied or cancelled. 

Where more complex cases are considered by the courts, sentencing decisions can take time, leading to extended or repeated bail orders. This also impacts how unsentenced community orders are ended. 

In 2024–25, 69% of unsentenced community-based orders ended because they were successfully completed (Table S68). This ranged from 45% in South Australia to 96% in Victoria (Table S68).

About two-thirds (68%) of successfully completed unsentenced orders lasted fewer than 3 months. In those states and territories where the data was available the proportions ranged from 44% in Queensland to 90% in Western Australia (Table S68).

Sentenced community-based supervision

In 2024–25, more than 8 in 10 (83%) young people aged 10 and over who were under community-based supervision on an average day were on a sentenced order (Table S64a).

Of First Nations young people aged 10 and over, 85% who were under community-based supervision on an average day were serving a sentence. Table S64a Around 8 in 10 (80%) of non-Indigenous young people who were under community-based supervision on an average day were serving a sentence (Table S64a). 

A similar proportion (80%) of young people were under sentenced community-based supervision during the year (Table S64b). 

The rate of young people aged 10–17 who were under sentenced community-based supervision on an average day was 7.9 per 10,000. Among the states and territories, the rate was lowest in Victoria (2.0 per 10,000) and highest in Tasmania (15 per 10,000) (Figure 5.2; Table S66a)

The rate of First Nations young people aged 10–17 in sentenced community-based supervision on an average day was 71 per 10,000. For the states and territories, this ranged from 18 per 10,000 in Victoria to 99 per 10,000 in Queensland (Table S66a).

For non-Indigenous young people, the national rate was 3.5, ranging from 1.7 per 10,000 in Victoria to 10 per 10,000 in Tasmania (Table S66a).

Probation and similar orders

Probation and similar orders involve supervision by a youth justice agency for a specified period. Young people under these orders are often required to report to the agency regularly and be involved in treatment programs.

On an average day in 2024–25, half (50%) of young people aged 10 and over supervised in the community were serving a probation or similar order (Figure 5.1). This ranged from 22% in South Australia to 63% in New South Wales (Table S60). 

In 2024–25, more than 4 in 5 (83%) probation and similar orders that ended were successfully completed (see Glossary) (Table S69). This proportion was lowest in the New South Wales (79%) and highest in South Australia (94%) (Table S69).

Almost 4 in 5 (77%) of successfully completed orders lasted for fewer than 12 months and the remainder lasted for 12 months or more (Table S69).

Almost 1 in 10 (9.2%) probation and similar orders ended due to a breach of conditions (Table S70). This proportion was lowest in the Queensland (6.4%) and highest in Western Australia (19%) (Table S70).

Suspended detention

Under a suspended detention order, the young person remains in the community, as long as they do not breach conditions of the order or re-offend within a specified period. If the order is breached, they may be placed in detention.

On an average day in 2024–25, 6% of young people aged 10 and over under community-based supervision were serving a suspended detention order (Figure 5.1). This proportion was highest in Tasmania (14%) (Table S60).

Among the states and territories with data available and that issued suspended detention orders during 2024–25, the proportion that ended because they were successfully completed was highest in South Australia (77%) and lowest in Queensland (59%) (Table S71). 

Successfully completed suspended detention orders were not published for the Australian Capital Territory due to small numbers, to protect the confidentiality of young people.

Parole or supervised release

Parole or supervised release refers to supervision within the community following a period of detention. 

On an average day in 2024–25, 3.9% of young people under community-based supervision were on parole or supervised release (Figure 5.1). This proportion was highest in New South Wales and Western Australia (4.8%) (Table S60).