Youth justice in Australia 2024–25

Young people may be sentenced to detention if they are judged to be guilty, or plead guilty, in court. Sentenced detention comprises young people who have received control orders or youth residential orders or who have had their parole revoked (which can be due to re‑offending or non-compliance with parole conditions). 

Number and rate

On an average day in 2024–25, around 1 in 4 young people in detention (23%) were in sentenced detention (Figure 6.4). Among the states and territories, this ranged from 6.3% in the Australian Capital Territory to 60% in the Northern Territory (Table S108a).

Nationally, almost 3 in 5 (57%) young people in sentenced detention on an average day identified as being First Nations (Table S108a). This proportion varied considerably among the states and territories. 

On an average day in 2024–25, the rate of young people aged 10–17 in sentenced detention was 0.5 per 10,000 (Table S110a). Among the states and territories for which rates could be calculated, rates were lowest in Victoria (0.1 per 10,000) and highest in the Northern Territory (9.8 per 10,000) (Table S110a).

Completion of periods

Almost half (49%) of sentenced detention periods that ended in 2024–25 ended because the young person was released on parole (also known as supervised release) (Table S123). This proportion was lower for First Nations young people than non-Indigenous young people (46% and 57%, respectively) (Table S123).

Almost half (46%) of First Nations young people in sentenced detention were released on parole. This proportion was similar among First Nations young people whose sentenced detention ended due to completion (44%). The remaining periods (10%) ended for other reasons, including transfer (which can include transfer to another youth detention centre, the adult system or interstate) (Table S123).

Two-in-five (39%) of sentenced detention periods ended with the period being completed (see Glossary). This proportion was higher for First Nations young people than non-Indigenous young people (44% and 27%, respectively) (Table S123).

The states and territories varied:

• In New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia more than half (57–88%) of sentenced detention periods ended with the young person being released on parole (Table S123).
• In South Australia, 49% of sentenced detention periods ended with the young person being released on parole, whilst the other periods (51%) ended with the period being completed (Figure 6.5; Table S123).