PRINCIPAL OFFENCE
The predominant principal offence that offenders were proceeded against in 2007-08 was public order offences (32% of all offenders). The next most prevalent principal offences were acts intended to cause injury (26%) followed by illicit drug offences (9%).
While public order offences and acts intended to cause injury were the two main principal offences for both males and females, there was a notable difference in the female proportion for each offence type. Females were more commonly proceeded against than males for public order offences as their principal offence (46% of females compared to 28% of males). Males were more commonly proceeded against than females for acts intended to cause injury as their principal offence (28% of males compared to 18% of females).
Offenders, Selected principal offence by sex, Northern Territory
Age was a factor when considering the type of principal offence that someone was proceeded against by police. Based on the median age of offenders by each principal offence type, offenders were younger for principal offences relating to theft and unlawful entry with intent (median age 16 years for both offence types), and much older for homicide and miscellaneous offences (median age 34 years for both offence types).
Offenders, Principal offence by median age, Northern Territory
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