incidents per offender and a corresponding 40.4% increase in the average number of alleged offences per offender. The decline in the number of cases (as demonstrated in Figure 2) has outpaced the slight decline in the number of charges when the new bail-related offences are excluded (as demonstrated by Figure 3). As a result, Figure 4 shows that there has been an increase in the average number of charges per case since 2013, even when the new bail-related offences are excluded. it is not possible to determine from the data, the increase in the average number of charges per case may also reflect changed charging practices by Victoria Police. Distribution of sentence types in 2015 Figure 5 presents the distribution of sentence types imposed in the Children’s Court by the most serious sentence imposed in a case in 2015 (the most recent year in the dataset). For example, if a single case received both a fine and a youth supervision order, the youth supervision order (as the most serious sentence imposed), has been recorded as the sentence for the case. Figure 5: Percentage of cases by most serious sentence type in case, Children’s Court, 2015 Most serious sentence type Percentage of cases Good behaviour bond 35.1 Probation order 20.7 Fine 15.7 Youth supervision order 11.3 Accountable undertaking 6.6 Dismissal 4.0 Youth justice centre order 3.1 Youth attendance order 1.7 Unaccountable undertaking 1.0 Convicted and discharged 0.6 Youth residential centre order 0.2 Good behaviour bonds were the most common sentence imposed (in 35.1% of cases) followed by probation orders (20.7%), fines (15.7%), youth supervision orders (11.3%), and accountable undertakings (6.6%). The remaining sentencing orders were each applied in less than 5% of cases. The most serious sentences available detention in either a youth justice centre (where the offender is under 15) or a – youth residential centre (where the offender is 15 and over) were imposed in – 3.1% and 0.2% of cases, respectively.
incidents per offender and a corresponding 40.4% increase in the average number of alleged offences per offender. The decline in the number of cases (as demonstrated in Figure 2) has outpaced the slight decline in the number of charges when the new bail-related offences are excluded (as demonstrated by Figure 3). As a result, Figure 4 shows that there has been an increase in the average number of charges per case since 2013, even when the new bail-related offences are excluded. it is not possible to determine from the data, the increase in the average number of charges per case may also reflect changed charging practices by Victoria Police. Distribution of sentence types in 2015 Figure 5 presents the distribution of sentence types imposed in the Children’s Court by the most serious sentence imposed in a case in 2015 (the most recent year in the dataset). For example, if a single case received both a fine and a youth supervision order, the youth supervision order (as the most serious sentence imposed), has been recorded as the sentence for the case. Figure 5: Percentage of cases by most serious sentence type in case, Children’s Court, 2015 Most serious sentence type Percentage of cases Good behaviour bond 35.1 Probation order 20.7 Fine 15.7 Youth supervision order 11.3 Accountable undertaking 6.6 Dismissal 4.0 Youth justice centre order 3.1 Youth attendance order 1.7 Unaccountable undertaking 1.0 Convicted and discharged 0.6 Youth residential centre order 0.2 Good behaviour bonds were the most common sentence imposed (in 35.1% of cases) followed by probation orders (20.7%), fines (15.7%), youth supervision orders (11.3%), and accountable undertakings (6.6%). The remaining sentencing orders were each applied in less than 5% of cases. The most serious sentences available – detention in either a youth justice centre (where the offender is under 15) or a youth residential centre (where the offender is 15 and over) – were imposed in 3.1% and 0.2% of cases, respectively.
Sentencing%20Children%20in%20Victoria%20Data%20Update%20Report.docx