What do we know about young people and crime?
Young people are the most affected by crime and how we respond to it.
Young people are more likely to be victims of crime than older people.
They are more likely to be repeat victims.
They are the least likely to report it.
Young people tend to engage in criminal behaviour.
They are most likely to do so in their mid to late teens and early twenties.
Most of them will grow out of it.
As a community we tend to deal with this behaviour informally.
Our justice system supports that approach.
So does the evidence.
There is a small group of persistent offenders.
They are responsible for about 50% of all youth crime.
They need a lot of support. So do their families.
Want to know more?
Quick Facts
Key Research
Young People as Victims of Crime
Young People and Criminal Behaviour
New Zealand's Youth Justice System