Policy context

Children can be exposed to crime as victims or witnesses within their homes or the broader community. Any type of exposure to crime at a young age can have potentially detrimental impacts on a child’s health, safety and development.

The types of crime children can be exposed to vary from non-violent crimes, such as theft or fraud, to highly violent crimes, such as aggravated sexual assault or homicide.

There can be physical and/or emotional impacts for children who are victims of, or who witness crime. In some cases, these may be short-term; however, in many cases, the consequences can involve much longer-term developmental, mental, physical and social problems.¹ For example, children exposed to crime, especially violent crime or crime involving weapons, may have:

• increased likelihood of depression

• suicidal ideation and behaviour

• psychopathology and other psychological disorders

• future victimisation and offending

• homelessness.²