4519.0 - Recorded Crime - Offenders, 2014-15 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/02/2016   
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RECORDED CRIME - OFFENDERS, 2014-15 - AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

TOTAL OFFENDERS

The Australian Capital Territory had the lowest number of offenders and offender rate of any state or territory in 2014-15. There were 2,665 offenders in the Australian Capital Territory, which represented a decrease of 13% (or 404 offenders) from 2013-14. The (crude) offender rate decreased by 14% from 921 in 2013-14 to 792 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2014-15.

SEX

Between 2013-14 and 2014-15:

  • Male offenders decreased by 10% (or 231 offenders) to 2,135; and
  • Female offenders decreased by 25% (or 174 offenders) to 531.

AGE STANDARDISED OFFENDER RATES

In 2014-15:
  • The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander age standardised offender rate was 4,364 offenders per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons aged 10 years and over.
  • The non-Indigenous age standardised offender rate was 601 offenders per 100,000 non-Indigenous persons aged 10 years and over.

PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2014-15, the three most common principal offences were:
  • Public order offences (627 offenders, or 24%);
  • Acts intended to cause injury (536 offenders, or 20%); and
  • Illicit drug offences (374 offenders, or 14%).

REPEAT OFFENDERS

The Australian Capital Territory had the lowest proportion of repeat offenders of any state and territory in 2014-15. Only 15% of offenders were proceeded against on two or more separate occasions within the year.

YOUTH OFFENDERS

In 2014-15, there 591 youth offenders in the Australian Capital Territory, which represented a decrease of 190 offenders or 24% from 2013-14. Although the Australian Capital Territory had the second highest proportion of youth offenders (22% in 2014-15), the number of youth offenders has been declining since 2011-12, and has nearly halved in that time period (down by 49% or 562 offenders).

The following principal offences were the most prevalent for youth offenders in 2014-15:
  • Public order offences (130 offenders, or 22%);
  • Theft (105 offenders, or 18%); and
  • Illicit drug offences (101 offenders, or 17%).

POLICE PROCEEDINGS

In 2014-15, the total number of police proceedings decreased by 15% (or 570 proceedings) from 2013-14.
  • Court actions decreased by 9% (or 219 proceedings). Over the past five years, Acts intended to cause injury has remained the most common offence proceeded against by court actions. In 2014-15, Acts intended to cause injury accounted for 26% of all court actions (or 553 proceedings).
  • Non-court actions decreased by 23% (or 350 proceedings). Public order offences was the most common offence proceeded against by non-court actions, accounting for 47% of all non-court actions (or 547 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.