Damning report finds no evidence $40m youth program reduces offending

A critical report has concluded there is no evidence to suggest a $40 million Victorian government initiative aimed at reducing youth crime has been effective. The Victorian Auditor-General's Office (VAGO) report, released today, revealed that approximately two-thirds of young participants in the Youth Crime Prevention Program re-offended within six months of joining.

Since its inception in 2016, the program has received around $40 million from the Victorian government for mentoring and case management services for at-risk youth. However, the data indicates that the increase in youth offending incidents, from 17,115 in 2022 to 23,893 in 2023, may be driven by a small group of repeat offenders rather than the program itself.

The VAGO report also highlighted that it was unclear whether the program was reaching its intended recipients, with only half of the program's places going to young people who had a history of offending, while the remaining 50% varied greatly among community organizations. The justice department accepted two recommendations from the report, including the introduction of minimum participant data and record-keeping requirements.

Crime has become a significant issue in Victoria's upcoming election, with Opposition Leader Jess Wilson criticizing the current Labor government's handling of the matter. Crime Prevention Minister Paul Edbrooke acknowledged the report's findings, stating that youth offending rates have been declining and that a Violence Reduction Unit was established in late 2025.

However, Andrew Bruun from Youth Support and Advocacy Service, which participates in the program, reported promising results, with 50% of program participants ceasing their offending. Bruun believes that the cost of keeping a young person in custody ($7,304 per day) is higher than the program's annual cost of $17,000, suggesting that investment in such programs is a better option for community safety.