A lot of media attention focuses on crimes committed by young people, which can make it seem as though they are responsible for most of the crime happening in our community. In Victoria, children aged 10-17 have consistently accounted for around 1 in 10 recorded crime incidents over the last decade. These incidents range from minor offences such as graffiti to serious crimes like carjacking, robbery and assault. As a society, we worry about young people becoming involved in even low-level crime due to concerns that they will get on the wrong track and become entrenched in a criminal way of life. Researchers from many fields have been studying youth crime for decades now, and some truths have become very clear:
- Poverty is a key driver of youth involvement in crime, along with homelessness and being involved in out-of-home care (residential care in the child protection system).
- Excluding kids from school through expulsion or suspension greatly increases the likelihood they will end up in the criminal justice system.
- Most young people who commit crimes will stop doing it as they mature without any intervention.
- The younger a child is when they come into contact with police, the more likely they are to stay in the system in the long term.
- The brains of young people don’t fully develop until they are around 25 years old, particularly the parts of the brain responsible for decision-making. (This is why we don’t let children drive cars, drink alcohol, sign contracts, or vote!) This ability to make decisions is particularly impaired when young people are in stressful situations.
- Most young people in our youth justice system have been victims of abuse, violence and trauma.
- Many of the young people in our youth justice system have mental health and/or disabilities, including learning or cognitive issues.
- Keeping a young person in youth detention (jail) is expensive - $2.8 million per year per child. Sentences carried out in the community cost $188,700 per year per child.
- Around 60% of young people sentenced in the Victorian Children’s Court reoffend within 6 years.
What does this mean for what we can do to reduce youth crime? These are some strategies backed by strong evidence of their effectiveness:
- Protecting children from harm and wrapping support around children and families experiencing trauma, violence and abuse.
- High-quality mentoring for young people, giving them a role model who believes in them and their potential, is a proven path away from involvement in crime.
- Resourcing schools to diagnose and support kids with learning, disability, behavioural and mental health issues to remain engaged and included.
- Ensuring detention (jail) is a last resort, after other interventions like cautions, conferencing and diversion are exhausted, is proven to reduce offending behaviour becoming entrenched in young people.
- Military-style youth bootcamps are ineffective and often harmful, but high-quality programs supporting Indigenous young people to connect with their culture on country are very effective in reducing justice system contact.
What can community members do?
- Most crimes committed by young people are opportunistic, so be sure to take preventive measures like locking your home and vehicle and keeping valuables and keys out of sight.
- Volunteer for local programs that support young people, such as L2P, sports, scouts, etc.
- Volunteer for programs that support young people in schools with reading, tutoring, etc or programs assisting adults with language and literacy through Local Learning networks
- Get to know your neighbours and young people in your community, and help them feel included and welcome by speaking positively to them and about them.
- If you run a business, consider employing a young person who is in need of some extra support or strong role models.
Above all, remember that we were all young once; most young people are doing their best in a world that is difficult to navigate, especially for those who are already facing significant challenges. We can all contribute to creating thriving communities by watching out for each other, especially for our precious young people.
This article is written by Anika Dell, a criminologist with over 25 years of experience across academia and state and local government. She is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology and previously worked in the Community Crime Prevention Unit at the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS). During her eight years at DJCS, Anika played a key role in shifting government focus and funding toward community-led, evidence-based crime prevention initiatives. She now serves on our Neighbourhood Watch Victoria board.
