It is well publicised that Aborigines, both adult and juvenile, are over‐represented in the criminal justice system. However, an examination of youth offending in South Australia during the period 1 July 1979 — 30 June 1983 has indicated that the degree of Aboriginal over‐representation increases rapidly as they move up through the various stages of the system. They are least over‐represented at the lowest stage, namely at the Children's Aid Panel level, and most over‐represented at the sentencing stage of the Children's Court in terms of the numbers sentenced to detention in a youth training centre. This raises questions about the applicability of the juvenile section of the criminal justice system to Aborigines.