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
Hover over the lines in the graph to display the sentencing outcome, year, number of cases and percentage of cases. Select and deselect sentencing outcomes using the key at the top of the graph. Double-click on the key to reset the graph.
Source: Court Services Victoria, unpublished data.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.
