Evidence-based approaches to child justice
Explore evidence-based initiatives to prevent and respond to youth offending, supplementing the landmark Help Way Earlier! child justice reform report.
Summary
This report on evidence-based initiatives to prevent and respond to crime by children is a supplement to the 2024 landmark Help Way Earlier! report on child justice reform from Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner.
Released in October 2025, this supplement to our landmark Help Way Earlier! report on child justice reform contains 6 case studies from Australia and around the world that are examples of evidence-based approaches to reforming child justice systems.
With case studies from Australia, Scotland, USA, Netherlands and Spain, the supplement shows how primary prevention, early intervention, integrated services and therapeutic community-based approaches that emphasise family and cultural connections can transform outcomes for children.
The examples also show that sustained and collective commitment to reform across the health, education, welfare and justice sectors is crucial to success.
Download report PDF (4.19 MB)
