TASMANIA

TOTAL OFFENDERS

There were 10,414 offenders proceeded against by police in Tasmania during 2016–17. This was an increase of 2% (or 216 offenders) from 2015–16 and equated to an offender rate of 2,281 offenders per 100,000 persons.

This is only the third annual increase in offenders since the beginning of the time-series in 2008–09. Overall between 2008–09 and 2016–17 the number of offenders has decreased by almost a third (30% or 4,412 offenders). (Table 12)


PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2016–17 the most common principal offence for offenders in Tasmania was Public order offences (30% or 3,114 offenders), followed by Acts intended to cause injury (18% or 1,847 offenders). (Table 12)

Tasmania had the second lowest offender rate (and the Australian Capital Territory the lowest) for the principal offence of Sexual assault and related offences (24 and 19 offenders per 100,000 persons). (Table 6)


SEX

Between 2015–16 and 2016–17, the number of female offenders increased by 8% (178 offenders). This was the highest annual increase for any of the states and territories. The largest contributor to the increase was the principal offence of Acts intended to cause injury, up 14% or 61 offenders.

Male offenders increased by less than 1% (36 offenders). Since the beginning of the time-series in 2008–09, males have consistently made up over three-quarters of offenders. (Table 12)


YOUTH OFFENDERS

The number of youth offenders decreased by 7% (83 offenders) from 1,117 offenders in 2015–16 to 1,034 offenders in 2016–17. This is the eighth consecutive annual decrease in youth offenders. Since the beginning of the time-series in 2008–09 to 2016–17, the number of youth offenders has more than halved (down 60% or 1,569 offenders).

Over half of youth offenders had a principal offence of either Acts intended to cause injury (214 offenders or 21%), Theft (189 offenders or 18%) or Public order offences (183 offenders or 18%). (Table 20)


POLICE PROCEEDINGS

In 2016–17 more than half of non-court proceedings were for the principal offence of Public order offences (58% or 3,315 proceedings). For court proceedings the largest contributors were the principal offences of Acts intended to cause injury (21% or 2,133 proceedings), Theft (19% or 1,939 proceedings) and Offences against justice (15% or 1,540 proceedings). (Table 30)