MOST SERIOUS OFFENCE/CHARGE

A most serious offence/charge is determined for each prisoner (see Explanatory Notes, paragraphs 78-81). At 30 June 2013, the most common offence/charge for prisoners in all states and territories, except for Victoria and South Australia, was acts intended to cause injury. The Northern Territory had the highest proportion of prisoners with a most serious offence/charge of acts intended to cause injury at 50%, more than double the national figure of 20%. (Table 16)

In Victoria, the most common offence/charge was offences against justice procedures (15% or 806), followed by acts intended to cause injury (14% or 764). In South Australia, offences against justice procedures and acts intended to cause injury were proportionally as common as each other (both 15%), the number of prisoners with a most serious offence/charge of offences against justice procedures was slightly higher (339) than those with acts intended to cause injury (337). (Table 16)