RECORDED CRIME - OFFENDERS, 2014-15 - SOUTH AUSTRALIA

TOTAL OFFENDERS

In 2014-15, there were 47,451 offenders in South Australia, which represented a decrease of 4% (or 2,179 offenders) from 2013-14. The offender rate decreased by 5% from 3,359 in 2013-14 to 3,184 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2014-15.

These decreases were in contrast to the movements in national data. For all of Australia, the number of offenders rose by 2% (or 6,985 offenders) and the offender rate rose from 1,995 to 2,001 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over,

AGE

Between 2013-14 and 2014-15:

• The median age of offenders increased 1 year to 30 years; and
• The number of youth offenders decreased 9% (or 789 offenders) from 8,861 to 8,072.

In 2014-15:

• The most prevalent offender age group was 20-24 years (7,208 offenders per 100,000 persons).

AGE STANDARDISED OFFENDER RATES

In 2014-15, the age standardised offender rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons was 10,360 offenders per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons aged 10 years and over. The age standardised offender rate for non-Indigenous people was 1,214 offenders per 100,000 non-Indigenous persons aged 10 years and over.

PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

South Australia had the highest offender rate for Illicit drug offences (1,031 offenders per 100,000 persons).

Between 2013-14 and 2014-15, the four key movements of principal offences in South Australia were:

• Acts intended to cause injury (up 24% to 6,999 offenders);
• Sexual assault and related offences (up 20% to 885 offenders);
• Abduction/harassment (up 31% to 350 offenders); and
• Public order offences (down 30% to 10,370 offenders).

YOUTH OFFENDERS

In 2014-15, 17% of offenders in South Australia were youth offenders. The most prevalent offence for youth offenders was Illicit drug offences, making up 24% (or 1,927 offenders) of the total.



REPEAT OFFENDERS

In 2014-15, 16% of offenders were proceeded against on two or more separate occasions within the year, up from 12% in 2013-14.

POLICE PROCEEDINGS

In 2014-15, the total number of police proceedings increased by 1% (or 776 proceedings) from 2013-14.

• Court actions increased by 7% (or 2,084 proceedings). Acts intended to cause injury was the most common offence proceeded against by court actions, accounting for 26% of all court actions (or 8,063 proceedings).
• Non-court actions decreased by 4% (or 1,314 proceedings). Illicit drug offences was the most common offence proceeded against by non-court actions, accounting for 48% of all non-court actions (or 14,911 proceedings).

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.