4513.0 - Criminal Courts, Australia, 2011-12 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/02/2013   
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Contents >> Magistrates' Courts >> Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants - Queensland - Magistrates' Courts


ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER DEFENDANTS

Queensland

In the Magistrates' Courts in 2011-12, 16,508 defendants (21%) in Queensland identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

Graph Image for DEFENDANTS FINALISED(a), Magistrates' Courts, Indigenous Status, Queensland

Footnote(s): (a) Excludes ANZSOC Division 14 and Subdivision 041 (see Explanatory Notes paragraph 50-51) and organisations.

Source(s): Criminal Courts, Australia



The proportion of males and females varied for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants when compared to non-Indigenous defendants. In Queensland, 31% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants were female compared with 21% of non-Indigenous defendants.

The age profile of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants was similar to non-Indigenous defendants. Those aged under 30 years accounted for just over half (52%) of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants compared with 56% of non-Indigenous defendants.

Graph Image for DEFENDANTS FINALISED(a), Magistrates' Courts, Indigenous Status(b) by age, Queensland

Footnote(s): (a) Excludes ANZSOC Division 14 and Subdivision 041 (see Explanatory Notes paragraph 50-51) and organisations. (b) Excludes defendants with an Indigenous Status of not stated.

Source(s): Criminal Courts, Australia



There was also variation when comparing offence categories. In Queensland, the three main offences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants adjudicated were: public order offences (39%), offences against justice (18%), and theft (11%). For non-Indigenous defendants the three main offences were: illicit drug offences and public order offences (both 20%) and offences against justice (18%).

When comparing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants with non-Indigenous defendants, the proportions of custodial to non-custodial orders differed in 2011-12. In Queensland, 16% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants proven guilty were sentenced to custodial orders compared with 9% of non-Indigenous defendants. By age, there was some variation in the younger age groups, with a larger proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants aged under 25 years receiving custodial sentences compared with non-Indigenous defendants.

Graph Image for DEFENDANTS PROVEN GUILTY(a), Magistrates' Courts, Indigenous Status(b), Custodial orders by age, Queensland

Footnote(s): (a) Excludes ANZSOC Division 14 and Subdivision 041 (see Explanatory Notes paragraph 50-51) and organisations. (b) Excludes defendants with an Indigenous Status of not stated.

Source(s): Criminal Courts, Australia



For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants proven guilty and sentenced to a non-custodial order, 20 to 24 year olds accounted for about one-fifth (19%) of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants, followed by defendants aged under 20 years (18%). For non-Indigenous defendants sentenced to a non-custodial order, almost one-quarter (24%) were 20 to 24 years olds, followed by defendants aged under 20 years (18%).

The age groups that least commonly received non-custodial orders were very similar for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous defendants:
  • 3% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants aged 55 years and over and 4% of defendants aged 50 to 54 years were sentenced to non-custodial orders
  • 3% of non-Indigenous defendants aged 50 to 54 years and 55 years and over were sentenced to non-custodial orders.



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