Australian Capital Territory Youth Justice Tracker
What did the ACT government promise, who got the money, who runs those organisations, what’s their track record, and what’s the political context?
The Story in Three Numbers
Australian Capital Territory detains 12 children on an average day at $5,200/day. 74% of those detained haven't been sentenced — they're on remand.
The Numbers That Matter
Source: outcomes_metrics database — AIHW, ROGS, state reports.
ROGS 2026 — System Snapshot
Sentenced vs Remand
AIHW quarterly avg nightly detention, ages 10-17. 83% are unsentenced — on remand, not convicted.
Safety in Custody — 10-Year Trend
ROGS 2026 rates per 10,000 custody nights.
Closing the Gap — Target 11
Off TrackIndigenous youth detention rate per 10K — reduce overrepresentation by 2030-31.
How ACT Compares
Australian Capital Territory vs other states — AIHW Youth Justice 2023-24 & ROGS 2026.
| Metric | QLD | NSW | VIC | WA | NT | National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detention rate (per 10K) | 5.1 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 4.2 | 17 | 3.4 |
| Avg daily detention count | 317 | 200 | 120 | 145 | 62 | 950 |
| Indigenous overrepresentation | 26x | 22x | 14x | 24x | 5x | 17x |
| First Nations detention rate (per 10K) | 42 | 32 | 18 | 38 | 25 | 26.1 |
| Avg days in detention | 104 | 55 | 37 | 68 | 45 | 62 |
| Cost per day (detention) | $2,162 | $3,200 | $7,123 | $2,573 | $4,800 | $3,635 |
| % unsentenced (remand) | 86% | 72% | 65% | 78% | 80% | 75% |
| 5-year trend (detention) | +53% | +86% | +37% | -10% | 0% | +19% |
1. Who Gets the Money
Top funded organisations across all ACT youth justice programs.
| Organisation | Grants | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Community Services Directorate | 68 | $986.2M |
2. Evidence & Accountability
Australian Living Map of Alternatives (ALMA) evidence for ACT youth justice programs.
Trace funding flows from budget to recipients, contracts, and lobbying connections