Indigenous Young People in Detention

In 2020–21, the rate of youth detention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people aged 10 to 17 years was higher than the rate for non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in all Australian states and territories.

Western Australia had the highest rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth detention at 212.8 per 10,000 young people. The Northern Territory had the greatest difference in detention rates between the two groups: the rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people was approximately 31 times the rate for non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.

Tasmania had the smallest difference in detention rates: the rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people was less than five times the rate for non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. In Victoria, the rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people was over six times the rate for non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.

All states and territories, except the Northern Territory, had a decrease in detention rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people between 2019–20 and 2020–21. The rate in the Northern Territory increased by 21.7%, from 118.7 in 2019–20 to 144.5 in 2020–21. Victoria had the largest decrease in detention rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, from 77.3 in 2019–20 to 47.5 in 2020–21, a decrease of 38.6%.

Note: Data is based on the count of unique persons aged 10 to 17 in youth detention at any time during the year.

Rates per 10,000 young people aged 10 to 17 in youth detention in 2020–21 by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Youth Justice in Australia 2020-21, Cat. No. JUV 138, Supplementary table S83b (2022).