This paper outlines a retrospective follow-up study of all Victorian children aged 10 to 13 years with police contact for alleged offending in 2017. The sample comprised relatively few 10- and 11-year-olds, while boys and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were over-represented. Most alleged offending was non-violent (71%), particularly among 10-year-olds (82%). Most matters did not proceed to court (80%), including 55 percent of matters which received police cautions.

Of matters proceeding to court, 37 percent were struck out or dismissed, and a further 53 percent had outcomes not involving youth justice supervision. Half of children (49%) had no alleged offending in the following two years.

The study findings suggest that justice responses (as opposed to youth justice statutory system responses) are not currently used as a last resort in responding to this group of children, and that there is significant scope to improve early therapeutic, educational and social support for 10–13-year-old children with alleged offending. The study findings lend support to raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility, while suggesting that consideration is required as to the alternative responses, particularly for the minority of 12- and 13-year-old children who engage in more serious or persistent offending behaviours.