Decline in Youth Offenders
According to the ABS, the number of offenders aged 10 to 17 years proceeded against by police decreased from 71,412 in 2008–09 to 46,798 in 2023–24, marking a 34% reduction.Growth in Youth Population
During the same period, the population of 10 to 17-year-olds in Australia increased. In 2006, there were approximately 2,196,289 individuals in this age group, which grew to about 2,475,036 by 2021.If you look at the number of youth offenders by principal offence, you’ll see that theft, public order offences, and unlawful entry with intent have decreased by over 70% in the past 15 years. This decline may be due to improved home security technologies, such as surveillance cameras, alarm systems, and reinforced doors or windows, as well as the positive impact of community and school-based crime prevention programs.
However, the overall decrease in the number of youth offenders does not apply to all offence types. Some serious offences, such as acts intended to cause injury, sexual assault and related offences, and weapons/explosives offences, have either increased or remained steady over the past 15 years. That said, when adjusted for the growth in the youth population, the offending rate has slightly declined for most of these categories, with the exception of sexual assault and related offences, which have continued to rise.
Why has the number of youth offenders for sexual assault and related offences increased? This may be linked to digital culture and consent issues, such as sexting and online harassment. It could also reflect increased reporting, as more victims are willing to come forward, partly due to greater awareness from school-based education and social movements like #MeToo.
*Youth offenders are persons aged 10 to 17 years.