Youth justice in Australia 2024–25

The size of youth justice populations in each state and territory are related to the size of the population in that state or territory, as well as to differences in state-based legislation, policies and practices, including the available types of supervised orders and options for diversion. 

Among the states and territories, Queensland and New South Wales accounted for more than half of all young people under supervision on an average day, regardless of supervision type. 

Young people in Queensland made up:

• 38% of all young people under supervision (Table S1a)
• 38% of all young people under community-based supervision (Table S34a)
• 35% of all young people under detention (Tables 2.1, S72a).

Young people in New South Wales made up:

• 25% of all young people under supervision (Table S1a)
• 24% of all young people under community-based supervision (Table 34a)
• 27% of all young people under detention (Tables 2.1; S72a).

On an average day in 2024–25, rates of young people aged 10-17 under supervision varied among the states and territories (Figure 2.3; Table 2.1). Noting there is no data for NT for community-based supervision or any supervision, the rates of young people: 

• under any type of supervision were lowest in Victoria (4.5 per 10,000) and highest Tasmania (20 per 10,000) (Table S4a)
• under community-based supervision ranged from 3.4 per 10,000 in Victoria to 18 per 10,000 in Tasmania. (Table S37a)
• in detention ranged from 1.1 per 10,000 in Victoria to 15 in the Northern Territory (Table S75a).

On an average day in 2024–25, rates of young people aged 12-17 under supervision were: 

• 19 per 10,000 for young people under any type of supervision in the Australian Capital Territory (Table S4a)
• 14 per 10,000 for young people under community-based supervision in the Australian Capital Territory (Table S37a)
• 5.0 per 10,000 for young people in detention in the Australian Capital Territory (Table S75a).

Note that rates in the Australian Capital Territory for 2024-25 are for young people aged 12-17 following the increase to the minimum age of criminal responsibility and are not directly comparable with rates prior to 2023-24.