OVERVIEW

This chapter presents national statistics for each state and territory about the characteristics of offenders aged between 10 and 19 years who were proceeded against by police during the period 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014. Characteristics of the offender include sex and age, as well as the principal offence for which a youth offender was proceeded against by police.

Certain offences are excluded from the Recorded Crime - Offenders collection. For further information about the scope and counting methodology of the collection refer to paragraphs 3-16 of the Explanatory Notes.

The number of youth offenders decreased by 3,391 offenders (or 4%) to 88,613 between 2012-13 and 2013-14. The youth offender rate decreased by 137 offenders per 100,00 persons (4%) between 2012-13 and 2013-14. Youth offenders comprised just under a quarter (22%) of the total offender population in 2013-14, while representing 14% of the total Australian Estimated Resident Population (ERP). (Table 11)

Offender rates increased for each year of age from 10 years (155 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years) to peak at 18 years (6,180 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 18 years). (Table 13)

Between 2012-13 and 2013-14, the largest changes in youth offending rates (per 100,000 persons aged 10-19 years) were for the principal offences of:

• Miscellaneous offences (a decrease of 115 offenders, or 47%);
• Property damage (a decrease of 29 offenders, or 14%);
• Illicit drug offences (an increase of 30 offenders, or 8%); and
• Theft (an increase of 26 offenders, or 3%). (Table 11)