This report is the first in a new series of reports to be published annually presenting youth justice statistics. In previous years, young offender statistics were presented in the annual report series titled 'Conviction and Sentencing of Offenders in New Zealand'. This report examines trends in Police apprehensions of 14 to 16 year olds over the period 1995 to 2006. It also examines trends in prosecutions, convictions and sentencing of young people over the period 1992 to 2006
This report presents information sourced from New Zealand Police and Statistics New Zealand. The report also uses data derived from the previous Law Enforcement System (LES) and the current Case Management System (CMS). The system changeover between 2003 and 2004 has changed how some information, notably case data, is defined and constructed. These changes may have affected some of the statistical trends, although not all of these effects can be identified and quantified.