Recorded Crime - Offenders

Australia’s federal, state and territory governments put restrictions in place to slow the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) from March 2020 to February 2023. The restrictions, and associated penalties for breaching these restrictions, varied across the jurisdictions. This should be considered when interpreting the Recorded Crime – Offenders data for associated reference periods.

There were 347,742 offenders proceeded against by police across Australia in 2022–23. This was a 6% decrease (down 21,746 offenders) from the previous year to the lowest number recorded since the time series began in 2008–09.

After accounting for population growth, the offender rate also decreased from 1,632 offenders in 2021–22 to 1,502 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2022–23, the lowest rate recorded in the time series.

Although there was an overall decrease in the number of offenders, most offence categories showed increases since last year. The decrease was mostly driven by miscellaneous offences (down 82% or 49,975 offenders) which, in 2021–22, were predominantly fines issued for COVID-19 related offences.

The three most common principal offences were:

• acts intended to cause injury with 91,007 offenders (26%)
• illicit drug offences with 52,315 offenders (15%)
• public order offences with 36,841 offenders (11%)

Acts intended to cause injury and illicit drug offences have consistently been among the three most common offence types since 2012–13. 

Acts intended to cause injury increased by 7,081 offenders (up 8%) from the previous year to the largest number since the time series began in 2008–09. After accounting for population growth, the offender rate for this offence also increased to the highest in the time series from 371 offenders in 2021–22 to 393 offenders per 100,000 persons in 2022–23. 

Theft offences increased by 5,630 offenders (up 19%) to 35,201 offenders in 2022–23. The offender rate for theft offenders also increased to 152 offenders per 100,000 persons. However, the number and rate of theft offenders is still lower than the years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Miscellaneous offences decreased by 49,975 offenders in 2022–23, an 82% decrease from the previous year (from 61,229 in 2021–22 to 11,254 offenders). This decrease was largely due to the decline in the number of offenders in New South Wales and Victoria. Most miscellaneous offences over the past few years had been fines issued for COVID-19 related offences.

Three-quarters of offenders (75%) proceeded against by police were male (260,472 offenders). 

The male offender rate was around three times higher than the female offender rate with:

• 2,277 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 741 female offenders per 100,000 females

Acts intended to cause injury was the most common principal offence among male (26% or 67,800 offenders) and female offenders (27% or 23,136 offenders). Both male and female offenders reached the highest number recorded for this offence since the time series began in 2008–09.

The median age of offenders in Australia has remained stable at 31 years since 2020–21. Since the start of the time series in 2008–09 when it was 25 years, the median age of offenders has steadily increased.

In 2022–23, there were 48,014 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years proceeded against by police, an increase of 6% (2,804 offenders) from 2021–22. 

After accounting for population growth, the youth offender rate also increased from 1,778 to 1,847 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years. This was the first increase in the rate of youth offending since 2009–10.

A quarter (25%) of youth offenders were proceeded against for acts intended to cause injury, which was the most common principal offence among youth offenders (11,860 offenders).

Miscellaneous offences decreased by 75% as a principal offence for youth offenders, down 2,814 offenders from the previous year to 963 offenders in 2022–23. Most miscellaneous offences over the past few years had been fines issued for COVID-19 related offences. As COVID–19 restrictions have eased, the number of youth offenders proceeded against for miscellaneous offences has declined.

The number of youth offenders with a principal offence of illicit drugs decreased by 4% to 3,380 offenders. This was the eighth consecutive annual decrease for this offence.

After accounting for population growth, the youth offender rate for illicit drugs also decreased from 138 to 130 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years. This was the lowest recorded rate since the time series began in 2008–09.

Over two-thirds (68%) of youth offenders were male (32,624 offenders).

The male youth offender rate was around double the rate of female youth offenders, with:

• 2,440 male offenders per 100,000 males aged between 10 and 17 years
• 1,208 female offenders per 100,000 females aged between 10 and 17 years

Acts intended to cause injury was the most common principal offence for males (21% or 6,898 offenders) and females (32% or 4,922 offenders). Male youth offenders with this principal offence increased by 12% and female youth offenders increased by 25% from 2021–22. For female youth offenders, this was the highest recorded number with this principal offence since the time series began in 2008–09.

Most youth offenders were aged between 14 and 17 years (80% of youth offenders or 38,621 offenders). The most common age of youth offenders was 16 years (22% or 10,304 offenders). 

In most states and territories, around a third (between 31% and 37%) of youth offenders were proceeded against by police more than once throughout 2022–23. In Victoria, 27% of youth offenders were proceeded against more than once (2,196 offenders) and in the Northern Territory, 53% were proceeded against more than once (399 offenders).

The mean number of times youth offenders were proceeded against by police was:

• 2.7 times in the Northern Territory
• 2.4 times in Queensland and Tasmania
• 2.1 times in New South Wales and South Australia
• 1.8 times in Victoria
• 1.7 times in the Australian Capital Territory

In 2022–23, the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders proceeded against by police was:

• 19,662 in New South Wales
• 17,113 in Queensland
• 5,784 in the Northern Territory
• 3,906 in South Australia
• 412 in the Australian Capital Territory

The most common principal offence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders was acts intended to cause injury:

• 58% in the Northern Territory (3,353 offenders)
• 54% in New South Wales (10,598 offenders)
• 43% in South Australia (1,683 offenders) and the Australian Capital Territory (179 offenders)
• 29% in Queensland (4,877 offenders)

Most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders were male:

• 78% in the Northern Territory
• 71% in the Australian Capital Territory
• 70% in New South Wales
• 68% in South Australia
• 67% in Queensland

The median age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders was:

• 28 in Queensland
• 29 in New South Wales
• 30 in the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory
• 31 in South Australia

The mean number of times Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders were proceeded against by police in 2022–23 was:

• 2.6 times in New South Wales
• 2.3 times in Queensland
• 2.2 times in South Australia
• 1.9 times in the Australian Capital Territory
• 1.7 times in the Northern Territory 

The number of police proceedings recorded in 2022–23 were:

• 208,359 in New South Wales
• 150,563 in Queensland
• 103,863 in Victoria
• 38,704 in South Australia
• 13,591 in the Northern Territory
• 13,071 in Tasmania
• 3,564 in the Australian Capital Territory

The numbers of proceedings increased in all published states and territories except New South Wales (down 13% or 30,075 proceedings) and Victoria (down 6% or 7,057 proceedings).

Proceedings with a miscellaneous principal offence in New South Wales and Victoria decreased between 2021–22 and 2022–23 (down 88% and 80% respectively). Most miscellaneous offences in these two jurisdictions in 2021–22 were fines issued for COVID–19 related offences. As COVID–19 restrictions have eased, the number of miscellaneous offence proceedings has declined.

The most common principal offences for police proceedings were:

• acts intended to cause injury in the Northern Territory (32%), the Australian Capital Territory (29%) and Victoria (21%)
• fare evasion in New South Wales (26%)
• illicit drug offences in South Australia (23%) and Queensland (19%)
• theft in Tasmania (21%)

The majority of police proceedings were court actions in all published states and territories:

• 83% in the Australian Capital Territory
• 80% in Queensland
• 79% in Tasmania
• 74% in Victoria
• 55% in New South Wales

The most common principal offences for court proceedings were:

• acts intended to cause injury in New South Wales (37%), the Australian Capital Territory (32%), Victoria (26%) and Tasmania (24%)
• offences against justice (20%) in Queensland

The most common principal offences for non-court actions were:

• fare evasion in New South Wales (57%)
• public order offences in Queensland (30%), Tasmania (26%) and Victoria (23%)
• illicit drug offences in the Australian Capital Territory (29%)

In Victoria there was a 30% decrease in non-court proceedings from 2021–22 (down 11,296 proceedings). This was due to miscellaneous offences decreasing to 3,812 proceedings in 2022–23 from higher numbers in 2020–21 and 2021–22 (32,372 and 19,374 proceedings respectively). These miscellaneous offences in Victoria were largely for fines issued for COVID-19 related offences.

There were 88,377 offenders proceeded against by police for at least one family and domestic violence (FDV) related offence in 2022–23, up 6,504 offenders (or 8%) from 2021–22. This was a quarter (25%) of all offenders recorded nationally. 

The offender rate was 382 FDV offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over.

Almost four in five FDV offenders were male (79% or 69,782 offenders).

The rate of FDV offending was around four times higher for males than for females, with:

• 610 male FDV offenders per 100,000 males
• 158 female FDV offenders per 100,000 females

The median age of FDV offenders remained at 34 years in 2022–23.

The most common age groups for FDV offenders were between:

• 30 and 34 years with 13,922 offenders (16%)
• 35 and 39 years with 13,031 offenders (15%)
• 25 and 29 years with 12,664 offenders (14%)

The most common principal FDV offences were:

• assault, comprising just over half (51%) of all FDV offenders (44,687 offenders)
• breach of violence and non-violence orders, comprising over a quarter (28%) of all FDV offenders (24,780 offenders)

There were 46,125 offenders (52% of all FDV offenders) proceeded against by police for at least one breach of an FDV related violence or non-violence order in Australia in 2022–23, an increase of 9% from the previous year.

Of these:

• 82% were male (37,969 offenders)
• the median age was 35 years

Across the states and territories, the number of offenders proceeded against for at least one breach of an FDV related violence or non-violence order was:

• 16,409 in Queensland
• 11,456 in New South Wales
• 9,641 in Victoria
• 4,005 in Western Australia
• 1,806 in the Northern Territory
• 1,705 in South Australia
• 924 in Tasmania
• 188 in the Australian Capital Territory

There were 118,133 offenders proceeded against by police in New South Wales in 2022–23, a decrease of 12% from the previous year.

After accounting for population growth, the overall offender rate in New South Wales also decreased from 1,892 offenders in 2021–22 to 1,627 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2022–23.

The decrease in offenders in New South Wales was driven by a decrease in miscellaneous offences (from 37,221 to 5,368 offenders). Most miscellaneous offences in New South Wales in 2021–22 had been fines issued for COVID-19 related offences. As COVID–19 restrictions have eased, the number of offenders proceeded against for miscellaneous offences has declined. 

The most common principal offence types in New South Wales were:

• acts intended to cause injury with 38,456 offenders (33%)
• fare evasion with 17,948 offenders (15%)
• illicit drug offences with 13,272 offenders (11%)

Acts intended to cause injury reached its highest level in the time series for both the number of offenders and the offender rate, with 38,456 total offenders and 530 offenders per 100,000 persons. 

Miscellaneous offences ceased being the most common principal offence following an 86% decrease (down 31,853 offenders) from the previous year. Most miscellaneous offences in New South Wales in 2021–22 had been fines issued for COVID-19 offences. 

Just over three-quarters (76%) of offenders in New South Wales were male (89,212 offenders).

The male offender rate was more than three times the female offender rate with:

• 2,483 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 783 female offenders per 100,000 females

There were 18,390 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years proceeded against by police in 2022–23, an increase of 2% (378 offenders) from the previous year. Youth offenders comprised 16% of total offenders in New South Wales in 2022–23. 

The offender rate was higher among youth when compared with the total New South Wales population with:

• 2,270 youth offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years
• 1,627 total offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over

The most common principal offences for youth offenders were:

• fare evasion with 7,443 offenders (41%)
• acts intended to cause injury with 4,183 offenders (23%)

There were 19,662 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders proceeded against by police during 2022–23.

More than half (54%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (10,598 offenders).

In 2022–23 there were 208,359 police proceedings in New South Wales. Of these:

• 55% were court actions (114,771 proceedings) – up 7,013 proceedings (or 7%) from 2021–22
• 45% were non-court actions (93,589 proceedings) - down 37,087 proceedings (or 28%) from 2021–22

The decrease in non-court actions was driven by a decrease in miscellaneous offences. In 2021–22, 43% of non-court proceedings were for miscellaneous offences compared with 6% in 2022–23. 

Over a third (37%) of court actions were for acts intended to cause injury with 42,813 proceedings.

In 2022–23 there were 65,741 offenders proceeded against by police, a 12% decrease from the previous year.

After accounting for population growth, the offender rate decreased from 1,297 offenders in 2021–22 to 1,111 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2022–23.

The decrease in offenders for Victoria was driven by a decrease in miscellaneous offences (down 13,410 offenders in 2022–23) from the previous year. Most miscellaneous offences in Victoria over the past few years had been fines issued for COVID-19 offences.

The most common principal offences in Victoria were:

• acts intended to cause injury with 17,606 offenders (27%)
• illicit drug offences with 7,756 offenders (12%)
• theft with 7,175 offenders (11%)

Over three-quarters (78%) of offenders in Victoria were male (51,133 offenders).

The male offender rate was more than three and a half times the rate of female offenders with:

• 1,756 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 486 female offenders per 100,000 females

There were 8,175 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years proceeded against by police in 2022–23, an increase of 16% from the previous year. Youth offenders comprised 12% of total offenders in Victoria in 2022–23.

After accounting for population growth, the youth offender rate increased from 1,127 offenders in 2021–22 to 1,277 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years in 2022–23.

Over a quarter (29%) of youth offenders were proceeded against for acts intended to cause injury (2,341 offenders), an increase of 23% (432 offenders) from the previous year.

There were 103,863 police proceedings in Victoria in 2022–23, a 6% decrease from the previous year. This decrease was due to miscellaneous offences, which declined 80% from the previous year (down 16,432 proceedings).

Most miscellaneous offences in Victoria over the past few years had been fines issued for COVID-19 offences. 

The majority (74%) of police proceedings were court actions (76,897 proceedings). Over a quarter (26%) of court actions were for acts intended to cause injury (20,262 proceedings).

Just under a quarter (23%) of all non-court actions were for public order offences (6,234 proceedings).

There were 82,677 offenders proceeded against by police in Queensland in 2022–23. This was an increase of 2% from the previous year and was the first increase in offenders since 2015–16.

Despite the increase in offender numbers, after accounting for population growth, the offender rate decreased from 1,762 offenders in 2021–22 to 1,745 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2022–23.

The most common principal offences in Queensland were:

• illicit drug offences with 15,935 offenders (19%)
• acts intended to cause injury with 14,313 offenders (17%)
• offences against justice with 12,550 offenders (15%)

The offender rate for illicit drug offences decreased from 368 offenders in 2021–22 to 336 offenders per 100,000 persons in 2022–23.

Almost three-quarters (73%) of offenders in Queensland were male.

The male offender rate was nearly three times the female offender rate with:

• 2,599 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 916 female offenders per 100,000 females

There were 10,878 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years in Queensland in 2022–23, an increase of 6% (574 offenders) from 2021–22. Youth offenders proceeded against by police comprised 13% of total offenders in Queensland in 2022–23.

After accounting for population growth, the youth offender rate increased from 1,863 offenders in 2021–22 to 1,925 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years in 2022–23.

The most common principal offences among youth offenders were:

• acts intended to cause injury with 2,518 offenders (23%)
• theft with 1,794 offenders (17%)

The offender rate for acts intended to cause injury increased from 402 offenders in 2021–22 to 446 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years in 2022–23.

There were 17,113 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders proceeded against by police in Queensland in 2022–23. This was a decrease of less than one per cent from the previous year (29 offenders).

After accounting for population growth, the offender rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders decreased from 8,851 offenders in 2021–22 to 8,624 offenders per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons aged 10 years and over in 2022–23, the seventh consecutive decrease.

The most common principal offence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders was acts intended to cause injury with 4,877 offenders (29%).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders with a principal offence of illicit drug offences decreased by 14% to 1,890 offenders. The offender rate for illicit drug offences was also the lowest in the time series, with 952 per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons.

In 2022–23, there were 150,563 police proceedings in Queensland, an increase of 5% from 2021–22 (7,287 proceedings).

Most proceedings (80%) were court actions (120,740 proceedings). Over half (59%) of all court actions were for offenders with a principal offence of either:

• offences against justice with 24,611 proceedings (20%)
• theft with 24,184 proceedings (20%)
• illicit drug offences with 22,641 proceedings (19%)

There were 29,829 non-court actions in 2022–23. Almost a third (30%) of non-court actions were for public order offences (9,043 proceedings).

The number of offenders proceeded against by police in South Australia increased by 2% in 2022–23 to 25,709 offenders, the first increase in offender numbers since 2015–16.

After accounting for population growth, the offender rate was relatively stable with 1,575 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2022–23.

Illicit drug offences were the most common principal offence in 2022–23 with 7,639 offenders (30%). From 2021–22, there was a 14% increase (913 offenders) in illicit drug offenders.

The number of offenders with a principal offence of miscellaneous offences decreased by 71% to 679 offenders from 2021–22. Miscellaneous offences were largely COVID-19 offences in 2021–22.

Three-quarters of all offenders were male (19,216 offenders).

Accounting for population growth, from 2021–22:

• the male offender rate decreased from 2,401 offenders to 2,393 offenders per 100,000 males
• the female offender rate increased from 768 offenders to 780 offenders per 100,000 females

The male offender rate remained more than three times the female offender rate.

There were 2,194 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years in South Australia in 2022–23, comprising 9% of total offenders in South Australia. The number of youth offenders proceeded by police increased by 11% from the previous year, compared with the total offender population increase of 2%.

More than a quarter (28%) of youth offenders had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (611 offenders). 

There were 3,906 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders proceeded against by police in South Australia in 2022–23.

More than two-fifths (43%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (1,683 offenders).

There were 38,704 police proceedings in South Australia in 2022–23, a 7% increase from the previous year. 

Illicit drug offences were the most common offence proceeded against in 2022–23 (23% or 9,002 proceedings).

There were 36,647 offenders proceeded against by police in Western Australia in 2022–23, an increase of 6% from the previous year. This increase followed the lowest number of offenders recorded in WA since the time series began in 2008–09.

After accounting for population growth, the offender rate also increased from 1,434 offenders in 2021–22 to 1,479 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2022–23. This was the first increase following five consecutive annual decreases in the offender rate in Western Australia.

Almost a quarter (23%) of offenders in Western Australia had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (8,385 offenders). 

More than a quarter (28%) of all offenders had a principal offence of either:

• illicit drug offences with 5,786 offenders (16%)
• theft with 4,546 offenders (12%)

Almost three quarters (72%) of offenders in Western Australia were male (26,244 offenders).

The male offender rate was over two and a half times the female offender rate with:

• 2,122 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 822 female offenders per 100,000 females

There were 6,278 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years in 2022–23, an increase from the previous year of 4% (up 241 offenders). Youth offenders comprised 17% of total offenders in Western Australia.

The offender rate for youth was higher than the rate for all persons in Western Australia with:

• 2,187 youth offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years
• 1,479 total offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over

The most common principal offence for youth offenders in Western Australia, was acts intended to cause injury (1,551 offenders or 25%) followed by theft (1,088 offenders or 17%). 

Youth offenders had higher rates of both acts intended to cause injury and theft compared with the total Western Australian offender population:

• acts intended to cause injury - 540 youth offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years, compared with 338 total offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over
• theft - 379 youth offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years, compared with 184 total offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over

In 2022–23, there were 7,388 offenders proceeded against by police in Tasmania, a decrease of 5% from the previous year.

After accounting for population growth, the offender rate also decreased from 1,536 offenders in 2021–22 to 1,444 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2022–23, the sixth consecutive decrease. 

More than a quarter (29%) of offenders in Tasmania had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (2,132 offenders).

Nearly three-quarters (74%) of offenders in Tasmania were male (5,470 offenders).

The male offender rate was nearly three times higher than the female rate, with:

• 2,167 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 734 female offenders per 100,000 females

In Tasmania, there were 1,012 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years proceeded against by police in 2022–23, an increase of 14% from the previous year. Youth offenders comprised 14% of total offenders in Tasmania. 

Accounting for population change, the youth offender rate also increased from 1,660 offenders in 2021–22 to 1,877 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years in 2022–23.

More than a quarter (29%) of youth offenders had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (295 offenders).

There were 13,071 police proceedings in Tasmania in 2022–23, mostly court actions (79% or 10,303 proceedings).

Nearly half (48%) of all court actions were for either:

• acts intended to cause injury (24% or 2,513 proceedings)
• theft (24% or 2,468 proceedings)

In 2022–23, there were 8,867 offenders proceeded against by police in the Northern Territory, an increase of 2% from the previous year.

After accounting for population growth, the offender rate also increased from 4,062 offenders in 2021–22 to 4,109 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2022–23.

The most common principal offences in the Northern Territory were:

• acts intended to cause injury with 3,645 offenders (41%)
• public order offences with 1,810 offenders (20%)

Offenders with a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury drove the overall increase in offenders (up 19% or 568 offenders).

Nearly three-quarters (74%) of offenders in the Northern Territory were male (6,541 offenders).

The male offender rate was nearly three times the rate of female offenders, with:

• 6,008 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 2,157 female offenders per 100,000 females

There were 754 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years in the Northern Territory in 2022–23. Youth offenders comprised 9% of total offenders proceeded against in the Northern Territory. 

The number of youth offenders remained stable from 2021–22. However after accounting for population change, the youth offender rate decreased from 2,855 to 2,819 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years in 2022–23.

The most common principal offences for youth offenders were:

• unlawful entry with intent with 229 offenders (30%)
• acts intended to cause injury with 221 offenders (29%)

In 2022–23, the number of youth offenders with a principal offence of robbery increased by 30% (up 28 offenders) to the highest in the time series, with 123 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years. The youth offender rate was also the highest in the time series, with 460 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years.

There were 5,784 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders proceeded by police in the Northern Territory in 2022–23, an increase of 15% from the previous year. After accounting for population growth, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offender rate also increased, up from 7,791 offenders in 2021–22 to 8,864 offenders per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons aged 10 years and over in 2022–23.

Over half (58%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (3,353 offenders). 

In 2022–23, there were 13,591 police proceedings. Just under a third (32%) of proceedings were for acts intended to cause injury (4,354 proceedings).

There were 2,581 offenders proceeded against by police in the Australian Capital Territory in 2022–23, an increase of 11% from the previous year.

The offender rate increased by 50 offenders to 636 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over, following the lowest rate recorded in the time series the previous year.

The most common principal offence in the Australian Capital Territory was acts intended to cause injury with 902 offenders (35%).

For offenders with a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury, between 2021–22 and 2022–23:

• the number of offenders increased by 160 offenders (or 22%) to the highest point in the time series
• the offender rate increased from 187 to 222 offenders per 100,000 persons, the highest rate since 2010–11

Miscellaneous offences decreased by 86% from the previous year to 23 offenders in 2022–23. The previous year saw miscellaneous offences rise to 166 offenders, the highest number in the time series. Most miscellaneous offences in the Australian Capital Territory in 2021–22 were for COVID-19 offences.

The majority (78%) of all offenders in the Australian Capital Territory were male (2,018 offenders).

The male offender rate was over three and a half times the female offender rate with:

• 1,012 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 275 female offenders per 100,000 females

There were 332 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years in 2022–23, comprising 13% of total offenders in the Australian Capital Territory. The number of youth offenders increased by 49% (109 offenders) from the lowest number in the time series in 2021–22.

The offending rate for youth was higher than the rate for all persons in the Australian Capital Territory with:

• 769 youth offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years
• 636 total offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over

The most common principal offence for youth offenders was acts intended to cause injury, accounting for 42% of all youth offenders (139 offenders). 

There were 412 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders in the Australian Capital Territory in 2022–23, up 21 offenders from the previous year.

More than two-fifths (43%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (179 offenders).

There were 3,564 police proceedings in the Australian Capital Territory in 2022–23. The majority (83%) were court actions (2,960 proceedings).

Acts intended to cause injury was the most common offence proceeded against in 2022–23 (29% or 1,033 proceedings). 

This release previously used catalogue number 4519.0.