The data were drawn from several sources: Home Office Research Studies, the 1996 British Crime Survey, 1997 Prison Statistics, and 1997 Criminal Statistics. The report advises that the best source of information on the scale of youth offending is provided by self-report studies in which youth are asked if they have ever committed particular offenses. Self-report data address the proportion of youth who admitted ever committing an offense, as well as the proportion of this age group who admitted committing a crime in the last 12 months. Data are also reported on drug use in the last year by gender for 1996 and 1997. The peak age of self-reported offending is identified, along with involvement in violent crime. For known offenders, the following information is provided: peak age of known offending, trends in the number of known young offenders (1981-97), employment status of known offenders, drug offenses, and car-related offenses. Data on the use of cautioning address trends in its use, regional variations in cautioning, and reconviction after a caution. Data on the sentencing of young offenders encompasses general sentencing statistics for 1997 compared with older offenders, previous convictions and sentencing, the prison population, children accommodated in secure units, trends in sentencing (use of imprisonment and sentences other than imprisonment), and reconviction rates after sentence. 23 figures and 18 tables