Queensland
This section summarises key findings of young people under youth justice supervision for Queensland, including the number and rate of young people under community-based supervision and in detention. It also summarises data on young people by age, sex, Indigenous status, legal status, time under supervision and contains trends.
Impact of COVID-19 on youth justice data
This report includes data from March 2020 to June 2022, which coincides with the presence of COVID-19 in Australia. However, the direct impact of COVID-19 and related social restrictions on the number of young people under youth justice supervision is difficult to determine due to a range of factors and more research is required.
Number and rate
On an average day in 2024–25, in Queensland:
- 1,142 young people aged 10-17 were under youth justice supervision (Table S130a)
- about 3 in 4 (75%) were supervised in the community (Table S130b), and 25% in detention (Table S130c) (proportions might not sum to 100%, as young people may be under community-based supervision and in detention on the same day)
- the rate of supervision was 20 per 10,000 young people aged 10–17 (Table S131a)
- 15 per 10,000 young people aged 10–17 were under community-based supervision (Table S131b), and 5 per 10,000 were in detention (Table S131c).
Age and sex
On an average day in 2024–25, in Queensland:
- 73% (1,138) of those under supervision were aged 10–17, and the rest were 18 and over
- nearly 4 in 5 (76%) of young people under supervision were male
- males under supervision were most likely to be aged 18 and over, whilst females were most likely to be aged 16 (Table S130a).
Figure 13.1: Number of young people under supervision (any type) on an average day, by age, sex and Indigenous status, Queensland, 2024–25
This interactive population pyramid shows that there were more males under all types of supervision than females. The largest number of males and females aged 18 or older and 16, respectively.
Notes:
- Age categories are not presented where they represent averages that are equal to or rounded to 0.0.
- Total includes young people of unknown age, sex and Indigenous status.
- Number of young people under community-based supervision and in detention may not sum to total number under supervision as young people may be under community-based supervision and in detention on the same day and may be in different age groups.
- Age on an average day is calculated based on the age a young person is each day that they are under supervision. If a young person changes age during a period of supervision, then the average daily number under supervision will reflect this. Average daily data broken down by age will not be comparable to Youth justice in Australia releases prior to 2019–20.
- The equivalent 'during the year' table or unique counts of young people is not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns.
First Nations young people
On an average day in 2024–25, in Queensland:
- First Nations young people made up 8.8% of those aged 10–17 in the general population, but 69% (or 785) of those of the same age under supervision (Tables S130a and S143)
- 68% (or 599) of young people aged 10–17 under community-based supervision were First Nations young people and 71% (or 192) under detention were First Nations young people (Tables S130b and S130c)
- First Nations over-representation was 23 times the non‑Indigenous rate in community-based supervision and higher in detention (27 times the non‑Indigenous rate) (Tables S131b and S131c).
- First Nations young people aged 10–17 were 23 times as likely as non-Indigenous young people to be under youth justice supervision (155 per 10,000 compared with 7 per 10,000) (Table S131a)
Time under supervision
In 2024–25, in Queensland:
- completed periods of supervision lasted a median length of 243 days (about 35 weeks) (Table S29)
- when all time spent under supervision during the year is considered, young people spent an average of 222 days (about 32 weeks) under supervision (Table S30).
Sentenced and unsentenced detention
On an average day in 2024–25, in Queensland:
- More than 9 in 10 (92%) young people in detention were unsentenced - that is, they were awaiting the outcome of their court matter, or had been found guilty and were awaiting sentencing
- 10% of young people in detention were serving a sentence (proportions might not sum to 100%, as young people may be in sentenced and unsentenced detention on the same day) (Table S108a).
Trends to 2024–25
Over the 5 years to 2024–25, on an average day, in Queensland:
- the number of young people under supervision fell by 3.1% (from 1,606 in 2020–21 to 1,557 in 2024–25) (Table S130a), while the rate fell slightly from 21 to 20 per 10,000 young people aged 10–17 (Table S15a)
- in community-based supervision, the number fell by 6.6% (Table S130b), while the rate fell from 17 to 15 per 10,000 (Table S48a)
- in detention, the number rose by 27% (Table S130c), while the rate remained steady from 4 to 5 per 10,000 (Table S86a)
- the rate for First Nations young people under supervision remained steady from 153 to 155 per 10,000 (Table S12a).
Figure 13.2: Rate of young people aged 10–17 under supervision on an average day, by supervision type, Queensland, 2020–21 to 2024–25
This graph shows that in Queensland, the rate of young people under supervision and community-based supervision declined overall from 2020–21 to 2024–25, while the detention rate increased.
Notes:
- Total includes young people of unknown age, sex and Indigenous status.
- Number of young people under community-based supervision and in detention may not sum to total number under supervision as young people may be under community-based supervision and in detention on the same day and may be in different age groups.
- Age on an average day is calculated based on the age a young person is each day that they are under supervision. If a young person changes age during a period of supervision, then the average daily number under supervision will reflect this. Average daily data broken down by age will not be comparable to Youth justice in Australia releases prior to 2019–20.
- The equivalent 'during the year' table or unique counts of young people is not published due to due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns.
- Rates are number of young people per 10,000 relevant population.
More information
This fact sheet is part of the Youth justice in Australia 2024–25 release, which includes a report, state and territory fact sheets, and supplementary data tables.
Together, these provide comprehensive information about young people under youth justice supervision in Australia due to their involvement, or alleged involvement, in crime.
For more information see the Youth justice topic.