Children’s Court of NSW Resource Handbook — Criminal matters — background material

27% of young people had been placed in care before the age of 16 years.

45% have had a parent in prison.

38% were attending school prior to custody.

26% were working in the six months prior to custody.

27% had been bullied and 52% had bullied others.

6% of young people reported being unsettled or having no fixed place of abode (six months prior to custody), with young women representing 18%.

More than one-quarter (27%) had moved two or more times in the six months prior to custody, and this was more for Aboriginal young people at nearly a third (32 %).

Young women were more likely than young men to have moved four or more times in the six months prior to custody.

Aboriginal young people more likely to have moved four or more times in the six months prior to custody.

60% had a history of child abuse or trauma.

14% had a possible intellectual disability (IQ 69 and under).

32% scored in the borderline intellectual disability range (IQ 70 to 79).

87% were found to have any psychological disorder, with conduct disorder (59%), substance use (49%), alcohol abuse (44%) or ADHD (30%) the most common.

16% had thought about suicide and 10% had ever attempted suicide.

21% had thought about self-harm and 16% had ever self-harmed.

79% had reported previous time in custody.

The average age of first time in custody was 14.3 years.

On average, young people had previously spent five times in custody.

42% were overweight or obese.

18% had a mild to moderate hearing loss.

23% have ever had asthma.

32% have had a head injury resulting in unconsciousness.

Poor nutrition is a common risk factor and diet improved while in custody — eating fresh fruit three or more times a week increased from 43% in the community to 90% since in custody; and eating vegetables three or more times a week increased from 57% in community to 77% since in custody.

37% of young people reported currently taking prescribed medications. The most common medication was for mental illness.

There was a low prevalence of blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections, with no young people found with HIV, gonorrhoea or syphilis. Four young people were found to have antibodies to Hepatitis C,six6 had Hepatitis B and six had chlamydia.

94% had ever smoked cigarettes with a mean age of starting smoking at 12 years.

46% indicated they currently smoked cigarettes or would smoke on release from custody.

93% had ever been drunk with an average age first drunk of 13 years.

66% reported being drunk at least weekly the year prior to custody.

61% of young people identified that their alcohol consumption had caused them problems in the past year (with school, friends, health, police, parents).

78% were found to be risky drinkers.

89% had tried illicit drugs, with cannabis (87%) the most common used, followed by ecstasy (41%), and meth/amphetamines (29%).

65% had used an illicit drug at least weekly in the year prior to custody.

65% reported committing crime to obtain alcohol or drugs.

20% were intoxicated (on alcohol, drugs or both) at the time of their offence.