Victorian Youth Crime Program Shows No Proof of Reducing Offending, Audit Finds

A report from the Victorian Auditor-General's Office (VAGO) has revealed no evidence that a $40 million state-funded initiative aimed at curbing youth crime has successfully reduced offending. Tabled in state parliament, the audit focused on the Youth Crime Prevention Program, which has received government funding since 2016 to provide mentoring and case management to at-risk youth.

According to the VAGO report, approximately two-thirds of young participants offended within six months of entering the program. Furthermore, the audit highlighted significant uncertainty regarding whether the initiative reached its target cohort. While at least half of the program slots went to individuals who had offended or were alleged to have offended, participation rates among community service providers ranged wildly from 18 per cent to 92 per cent. The report noted that due to broad program criteria and poor record-keeping, it remains unknown whether the remaining participants were genuinely at risk of offending.

Rising Incident Numbers and Political Debate

The findings come amid rising numbers of alleged youth offender incidents in Victoria, which grew from 17,115 in 2022 to a record 23,893 last year. Statistical analysis indicates a small group of repeat offenders is primarily driving this trend.

The findings have fueled political debate ahead of Victoria's upcoming election. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson criticized the government, asserting the report demonstrates taxpayer funds are being wasted while crime rates rise. Conversely, Crime Prevention Minister Paul Edbrooke stated that youth offending rates had been declining recently and pointed to the establishment of a Violence Reduction Unit in late 2025. He maintained that the report confirms changes in the nature of youth crime, adding that Victoria Police have been granted additional powers to address serious repeat offenders.

Sector Response and Recommendations

The Department of Justice accepted two recommendations outlined in the VAGO report, including establishing minimum participant data and record-keeping requirements to verify eligibility decisions.

Defending community interventions, Andrew Bruun of the Youth Support and Advocacy Service noted that 50 per cent of their current program clients had ceased offending after completing community corrections orders. He argued that preventing 30 per cent of participants from offending represents a positive outcome for community safety, especially regarding high-volume offenders. Bruun also highlighted the economic contrast, stating that youth custody costs $7,304 per day compared to $17,000 for a year of intensive support through the program. Updated figures from the Crime Statistics Agency for the 2025-26 financial year are scheduled for release on Thursday.