New youth detention stats show failure of law and order response

• The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has released its data update for the quarter to June 2025.
• The data shows the NSW Government is locking up growing numbers of children and young people, with a 34% increase in young people being held in custody compared to June 2023. Nearly 72% of these young people are on remand.
• In March, the NSW Government extended harsh bail laws, laws Aboriginal organisations and legal centres including the Justice and Equity Centre warned would put more children in jail and would not help communities.

Quotes attributable to Jonathon Hunyor, CEO of the Justice and Equity Centre (JEC)

‘These statistics show the NSW Government’s law and order response is letting down children and communities.’

‘We are locking up more and more children on remand who aren’t given a jail sentence. This harms these children, makes crime more likely and doesn’t keep our communities safe. We need to stop investing in failure and start investing in our communities.’

‘We’re wasting millions of dollars a year to lock up children, taking them away from their families and school. We’re digging ourselves a bigger hole for the future, because children who are locked up are more likely to reoffend across their lifetime.’

‘The NSW Government needs to make the smart decision and support local services. Investing in communities – particularly regional and remote communities that are crying out for solutions – will bring better results for children, community safety and the budget bottom line.’

Media contact:
Communications Coordinator, Seamus May: 0478 739 280