4519.0 - Recorded Crime - Offenders, 2012-13 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/02/2014   
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RECORDED CRIME - OFFENDERS, 2012-13 - TASMANIA

TOTAL OFFENDERS

    • In 2012-13, there were 11,465 offenders in Tasmania, which represented a decrease of 19% (or 2,718 offenders) from 2011-12.
    • The (crude) offender rate decreased by 19% from 3,159 in 2011-12 to 2,550 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2012-13.

SEX

Between 2011-12 and 2012-13:
    • The number of male offenders decreased by 17% (or 1,844 offenders) to 8,987; and
    • The number of female offenders decreased by 26% (or 875 offenders) to 2,477.

AGE

Between 2011-12 and 2012-13:
    • The median age of offenders increased from 25 years to 26 years; and
    • The number of youth offenders decreased by 24% (or 930 offenders) from 3,836 to 2,906.

PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2012-13, the five most common principal offences in Tasmania were:
    • Public order offences (33%, or 3,835 offenders);
    • Acts intended to cause injury (15%, or 1,668 offenders);
    • Illicit drug offences (13%, or 1,431 offenders);
    • Miscellaneous offences (10%, or 1,135 offenders); and
    • Theft (10%, or 1,092 offenders).

REPEAT OFFENDERS

23% of offenders were proceeded against on two or more separate occasions within the year.

POLICE PROCEEDINGS

In 2012-13 the total number of police proceedings decreased by 21% (or 4,391 proceedings) from 2011-12.

Court actions decreased by 19% (or 2,213 proceedings):
    • Acts indented to cause injury was the most common offence proceeded against by court actions, accounting for 20% of all court actions (or 1,870 proceedings).
Non-court actions decreased by 23% (or 2,178 proceedings):
    • Public order offences was the most common offence proceeded against by non-court actions, accounting for 57% of all non-court actions (or 4,147 proceedings).

OTHER KEY POINTS

In 2012-13, Tasmania had:
    • The largest percentage decrease in offenders (19%, or 2,718 offenders) from 2011-12, more than double the percentage decrease of any other jurisdiction;
    • The second highest proportion of offenders with a principal offence of Public order offences (33%, or 3,835 offenders), after the Northern Territory (34%, or 3,790 offenders); and
    • The highest proportion of offenders aged 65 years and over (2%, or 175 offenders).

For further information, refer to the other chapters of this publication, or contact the National Information Referral Service on 1300 135 070. When reporting ABS statistics, please attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) as the source.