SOUTH AUSTRALIA

TOTAL OFFENDERS

Between 2014–15 and 2015–16, the number of offenders in South Australia increased by 5% (2,254 offenders) to 49,705 offenders. This was the highest number of offenders recorded in South Australia since the beginning of the time series in 2008–09; and was the largest percentage increase of all states and territories in 2015–16.

In 2015–16 South Australia had the second highest offender rate of all states and territories, behind the Northern Territory. The offender rate increased by 5% between 2014–15 and 2015–16, from 3,184 to 3,313 offenders per 100,000 persons. (Table 6)


SEX

Between 2014–15 and 2015–16:

• The number of male offenders in South Australia increased by 4% (1,420 offenders) to a total of 38,503 male offenders.
• The number of female offenders in South Australia increased by 8% (796 offenders) to a total of 11,089 female offenders.

South Australia had the second highest female offender rate of all the states and territories (behind the Northern Territory), with a rate of 1,457 offenders per 100,000 females. (Tables 6–15)


PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2015–16 the three most common principal offences in South Australia were:

• Illicit drug offences (16,760 offenders, or 34%)
• Public order offences (8,951 offenders, or 18%)
• Theft and related offences (8,776 offenders, or 18%)

The number of offenders of Illicit drug offences increased by 9% (or 1,393 offenders) from 2014–15, to 16,760 offenders in 2015–16. This is the highest number of offenders in this division since the beginning of the time series in 2008–09. South Australia had the highest offender rate for Illicit drug offenders across all states and territories at 1,117 offenders per 100,000 persons.

The number of offenders proceeded against for Public order offences decreased by 14% (or 1,419 offenders) from 2014–15, to 8,951 offenders in 2015–16. Offenders proceeded against for Public order offences accounted for 18% of South Australia’s total offenders for 2015–16.

The number of offenders of Theft increased by 38% (or 2,413 offenders) from 2014–15, to 8,776 offenders in 2015–16. This was the highest percentage increase in Theft offenders in South Australia since the beginning of the time series in 2008–09, and was the largest percentage increase in Theft offenders across all states and territories. South Australia had the highest offender rate for Theft offences, at 585 offenders per 100,000 persons in 2015–16. (Table 6)


REPEAT OFFENDERS

South Australia had the second highest proportion of offenders proceeded against only once in the 2015–16 reference period, at 82% (40,698 offenders), behind the Australian Capital Territory (85%, or 2,428 offenders). (Table 16)


YOUTH OFFENDERS

Between 2014–15 and 2015–16, the number of youth offenders increased by 4% (or 153 offenders) to 4,402 offenders.

The youth offender rate in South Australia was 2,784 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10–17 years for 2015–16, which was the second highest youth offender rate of all states and territories.

The most common principal offence among youth offenders was Theft, accounting for 36% of youth offenders. (Table 19)


POLICE PROCEEDINGS

In 2015–16, the total number of police proceedings increased by 9% (5,240 proceedings) from 2014–15 to 66,913 proceedings. This was the largest percentage increase in proceedings across all states and territories for which proceedings data were available.

Between 2014–15 and 2015–16 in South Australia:

• Court actions increased by 8% (2,328 proceedings) to 33,003 proceedings.
• Non-court actions increased by 9% (2,882 proceedings) to 33,877 proceedings. This was the largest percentage increase in non-court actions of all selected states and territories. The increase in non-court action proceedings was largely driven by Theft (up 57% or 2,340 proceedings), and Illicit drug offences (up 13% or 1,999 proceedings). (Table 26–31)

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.