People Sentenced in the Children's Court
This graph presents the numbers of people sentenced in the Children’s Court over ten years.
Figure: People sentenced in the Children’s Court, 1999-00 to 2008-09
The number of people sentenced in the Children’s Court has steadily increased over the ten-year period, from 4,528 in 1999-2000 to 6,986 in 2008-09.
The increase in the number of defendants sentenced in the Children's Court in 2006-07 was due to two main reasons, both relating to the increase in age jurisdiction of the Children's Court from young people aged from 10 to 16 years to those aged from 10 to 17, that occurred on 1 July 2005.
Firstly, a backlog of infringement matters from the Department of Infrastructure was processed in the Children's Court in 2006-07. The matters related to fare evasion and other public transport related offences among 17 year olds who, prior to the age increase, were processed in the adult PERIN (Penalty Enforcement by Registration of Infringement Notice) system. Secondly, the full impact of the age increase more generally was not felt until 2006-07.
While the number of defendants sentenced in the Children’s Court has decreased since 2006-07, it has yet to return to the levels seen before the jurisdictional change.
Explanatory Notes
On 1 July 2005 there was an increase in the age jurisdiction of the Children's Court. Prior to this date, the Children’s Court could hear cases for young people aged from 10 to 16 years. Following the legislative changes, the Children’s Court can now hear cases involving young people aged from 10 to 17 years.
Source
Courts Statistical Services, Department of Justice (Victoria). Unpublished data.
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