The report Juvenile justice in Australia 2007–08, released earlier this month by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), shows that the number of young people in juvenile justice detention in Australia is increasing.

The number of young people in detention on an average day in Australia (except NSW, where data were not available) increased by 17%, from 540 in 2004–2005 to 630 in 2007–2008.

However, while there was an increase in the number of unsentenced young people in detention (including young people on remand), the number of sentenced young people decreased.

The report can be downloaded from the AIHW website: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10853.

Source: Youth Field Xpress, Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies