By Anthony Brown
Despite much talk about a youth "crime wave", statistics show that youth crime is not out of control and that young people themselves are often the victims of crime.
It is true that most criminal offenders are young people. The Queensland Police Service 1997/98 Statistical Review reports that most crime in Queensland is carried out by males aged 15-19. According to the review, they account for more assaults, robbery offences, motor vehicle theft and arson than other age groups.
In a 1995 report, Children, Crime and Justice in Queensland, the Criminal Justice Commission found that 70% of all crime involving young people in Queensland was property-related. Shoplifting made up one-fifth of crimes, while break and enters accounted for just under 18%.
Young people were more likely than adults to offend in groups, particularly in property crimes, and males were responsible for over 80% of all juvenile crime in Queensland.
Only a small proportion of young people, around 4% nationwide, are involved in the formal juvenile justice system. Few offend more than once. In NSW, 70% of young people who appear in the Children's Court do not go back, and 15% have only two appearances. Only 0.6% of all young people appear in court more than twice.
What is often not reported is that young people, more than any other age group, are victims of crime.
The Australian Institute of Criminology's 1997 Annual Report says that if you are aged 15-24, male or female, you are in the high risk category for victims of assault. Males aged 15-24 are at least twice as likely to become a victim of armed robbery as people in other age categories.
The Queensland Police Service review states that: females aged 10-14 are in the highest risk category for sexual assault; females aged 15-19 make up the majority of assault victims in Queensland; and males aged 15-19 are the most common victims of robbery.
Young people involved in the criminal justice system are also victims of individual and systemic abuse.
David Byrne, from Legal Aid Queensland's Youth Legal Aid unit, said: "The problem for many young people who come in contact with the juvenile justice system is that they are ignorant of their legal rights".
Byrne said that the unit has legal officers with specialist knowledge and experience in the law relating to youth. "It acts for young people, not their parents or anyone else. It protects the interests of young people, follows their instructions, and stands up for their rights."
[The Youth Legal Aid unit provides a specific legal service to youth, free to young people under the age of 17. Phone Legal Aid Queensland on 1300 65 11 88.]