The Adolescent Caution and Referral Program, which is aimed at reducing the number of at-risk youngsters becoming repeat offenders, was launched last month.

Leading Senior Constable Sandy McIver, of Glen Waverley police, said first-time offenders aged 10-17 could be given a caution by police and referred to Monash Youth and Family Services.

The support provided would seek to address the reasons why the young person offended and help them deal with other issues they could be facing, Leading Senior Constable McIver said.

In region 4, which covers Monash, Boroondara and Whitehorse, young people represent 21per cent of the population, but account for 46per cent of offenders processed.

A 2006 study found that while the majority of young people who received a caution for their first offence did not re-offend, a caution alone was not found to be an effective crime prevention strategy.

Leading Senior Constable McIver said a young person's first contact with police was an opportune time to link them

with other community support services.

"Young people make mistakes and this gives them a chance to keep them out of the court system and lowers their chances of future police contact."

She said ACAR aimed to decrease the number of young people involved in crime and to increase connections to youth support agencies, education, training and employment.

It was developed after research, consultation and a review of other police youth programs, such as the outer-eastern suburbs KNOXLink program.