4519.0 - Recorded Crime - Offenders, Selected states and territories, 2007-08

Quality Declaration

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/08/2009 First Issue

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Contents >> Queensland >> YOUTH OFFENDERS

YOUTH OFFENDERS

Of the young offenders aged 10 to 19 years, the highest offender rate for males occurred at age 18 years, while for females it was at age 15 years. Males aged 18 years offended at a rate more than three times higher than the rate for all male offenders (12,073 male offenders for every 100,000 males aged 18 years compared to 3,365 male offenders per 100,000 males aged 10 years and over). Females aged 15 years had an offender rate of 3,679 female offenders per 100,000 females aged 15 years, which was almost four times the rate for all females (947 female offenders per 100,000 females aged 10 years and over).

Youth offender rate (a), Age by sex, Queensland
Graph: Youth offender rate (a), Age by sex, Queensland

The predominant principal offences for youth offenders were theft (23%) followed by public order offences (22%). The impacts of age on patterns of offending is further illustrated by the following graph. While theft was the most prevalent principal offence for offenders aged 11 to 16 years, after the age of 15 years the rate generally decreased. Between the ages of 16 and 18, public order offences experienced a sharp increase in the offender rate, reaching its peak at age 18 years, at the same time that the rates were decreasing for theft and unlawful entry with intent.

Youth offender rate (a), Selected principal offence by age, Queensland
Graph: Youth offender rate (a), Selected principal offence by age, Queensland