Report analysing the relationship between the home situations of young offenders and the variables of age, sex, and race based on all children appearing before the Children’s Court for offending or misbehaviour complaints during the calendar year 1971. Sample consists of some 11,836 appearances (not persons). Forty-five percent of the sample were not living with both ‘natural parents’ at the time of the offence. Of this group, 54% were female and 42% male, a difference that can be attributed to the larger proportion of females living in institutions and children’s homes. The proportion of females not living with both natural parents was higher than the males for each age and race group. Proportionately fewer Māori offenders lived with both natural parents than non-Māori offenders and Māori were much more likely to be living with relatives. The proportion of offenders not living with both natural parents generally increased with age for each race and sex group. Report concludes that the proportion of young offenders coming from ‘broken homes’ has increased over the last decade but finds no clear explanation for this.