A push for better support for troubled youths, before they land in court

The Ministry of Justice's annual criminal convictions and sentencing statistics, reveals more than 17-hundred youths between 10 and 17 years of age had charges finalised in court.

It's equivalent to 31 per 10-thousand of the population.

Youth development worker Aaron Hendry says focus is needed on the environment around young people, to reduce the crime.

He says there's a lot of mental health issues, trauma and disabilities - but there's a lack of community services to respond to them.