TASMANIA has the nation's highest rate of young offenders new Australian Bureau of Statistics' figures reveal.
Released yesterday, the report shows Tasmania also has the second highest offender rate overall when adult perpetrators are factored in.
The crimes range from homicide, assault and sex offences to property crimes and public disorder.
Tasmania had more youth offenders per capita in 2011-12 for property offences, crimes against justice and public order offences than anywhere in the country.
The youth offender rate for public order offences - such as drinking grog in alcohol free zones - was 2076 per 100,000 people, which was more than double than the second-ranked Northern Territory.
The lowest was Western Australia with only a young offender rate of 236 per 100,000 people.
The large number of public order offences can be explained in part by the crackdown on smoking in public places in December 2010.
The amount of public space deemed alcohol free was also increased since legislation was introduced in 2007, driving up offences.
Save the Children's Lisa Cuatt runs the nationally recognised diversionary program Supporting Young People on Bail.
"For the offender rate to drop in Tasmania we need to look at working with young people in detention," she said.
"And to work very closely with them when they transition back in to the community."
She said evidence showed offenders were more likely to re- offend shortly after release if at all.
Ms Cuatt also backed early intervention programs.
"That's how we are going to change," she said.
Ms Cuatt cited Tasmania's economic doldrums and boredom as factors in the high youth offender rate.
"We have really high numbers of families on benefits so our income is very low per capita, I think that has a lot to do with it," she said.