Police diversion of young offenders and Indigenous over-representation

Australian Institute of Criminology (2009)
Police diversion of young offenders and Indigenous over-representation.
Canberra, ACT: Australian Institute of Criminology

This report describes the findings of a study into the incidence, nature, and outcome of contact with the juvenile justive system, for a cohort of 8,236 young people aged 10 to 16 years in Queensland between 2000 and 2007. The study was designed to assess whether greater use of diversionary measures, as opposed to formal sanctions, would reduce over-representation of Indigenous juveniles within the juvenile justice system. The study comprised three primary research topics: the amount/extent of contact with the juvenile justice system; processes used; and the impact of police diversion on further contact with the juvenile justice system. The study’s findings indicate that Indigenous juveniles come into contact with police earlier, at a more frequent rate and are less likely to be diverted to informal measures than non-Indigenous juveniles.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

• Further information:
  • View report (PDF – 126KB)
  • View website: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Contact details:
  • Australian Institute of Criminology, GPO Box 2944, Canberra ACT 2601, ph: (02) 6260 9200, email: front.desk@aic.gov.au