In 2023–24, the Children’s Court most often sentenced children and young people to:
- youth diversion (53.9% of cases)
- good behaviour bonds (19.5% of cases)
- probation (8.4% of cases).
The percentage of cases receiving youth diversion increased from 0.6% (22 cases) in 2014–15 to a peak of 53.9% (1,139 cases) in 2023–24. Youth diversion was introduced in Victoria in 2015 and rolled out state-wide in 2017.
Cases sentenced to youth detention (a youth residential centre order or a youth justice centre order) have fluctuated over time, peaking at 7.3% in 2017–18 followed by an overall decrease to 2.6% in 2023–24.
The use of fines declined from 67.0% in 2006–07 to 1.3% in 2023–24. There was a spike in fines in 2006–07 because the Children’s Court processed large numbers of infringements at that time.
The use of good behaviour bonds peaked at 36.1% in 2014–15 but then declined, making up 19.5% of outcomes in 2023–24.
The proportion of cases sentenced to a youth attendance/supervision order reached a high of 12.3% in 2020–21 but has since declined to 6.5% in 2023–24.
Since youth control orders were introduced in 2018, they have been an uncommon outcome in the Children’s Court, accounting for at most 5 cases in a year (0.2% of cases in 2020-21). There were no youth control orders imposed in 2023–24.
Note: The percentages in the graph include cases that received youth diversion. Youth diversion is not a sentence and does not result from a formal finding of guilt. However, it is an important disposition available in the Children's Court.
Percentage of cases sentenced in the Children’s Court, by sentencing outcome
Source: Court Services Victoria, unpublished data. Note that the data may be subject to revision to reflect amendments to records in Court Services Victoria’s databases.
