Generation Y and crime: A longitudinal study of contact with NSW criminal courts before the age of 21
The report Generation Y and crime: A longitudinal study of contact with NSW criminal courts before the age of 21, produced by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, presents the results of a study conducted in 2005-2006 on all those born in NSW in 1984. This cohort’s level of contact with NSW criminal courts before the age of 21 was measured by matching birth records against court appearance data.
Selected results:
- Among the cohort (n = 81,784), 9.9%, including 15.7% of males and 3.8% of females, had made at least one court appearance, while 9.4% (15.0% of males and 3.6% of females) were convicted at least once by a NSW court before the age of 21.
- Of those who appeared in court, 71.3% were 18 years of age or older.
- A cumulative distribution of age and first court appearance shows that the proportion of the cohort who had appeared in court accelerated sharply at the age of 17, particularly among males.
- Of the most serious offences for which members of the cohort first appeared in court, 33.9% were for road traffic and motor vehicle regulatory offences (64.5% of which were drink-driving), 13% for theft and related offences, 10.2% were for acts intended to cause injury and 9.3% were for public order offences.
- Of those who appeared in court, 2.4% of females (n = 36) and 6.0% of males (n = 393) received a prison sentence. Just 0.5% (approximately one in every 200) of the total cohort received a prison sentence before age 21.
Source: Hua, Jiuzhao, Baker, Joanne and Poynton, Suzanne 2006, 'Generation Y and crime: A longitudinal study of contact with NSW criminal courts before the age of 21', Crime and Justice Bulletin, n.96, August, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, viewed 30 August 2008
http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/pages/bocsar_mr_cjb96
http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/pages/bocsar_mr_cjb96