OFFENDERS
There were a total of 344,274 offenders proceeded against by police in Australia during 2008-09. This was a 6% (19,621) increase over the 324,653 offenders that police proceeded against in 2007-08. The rate of offenders dealt with by police in 2008-09 was 1,823 offenders per 100,000 people aged 10 years and over; an increase on the 2007-08 rate of 1,752 offenders per 100,000 people aged 10 years and over.
The number of female offenders increased by 8% (to 77,347 female offenders) between 2007-08 and 2008-09, compared with a 6% increase (to 266,198 male offenders) in the number of male offenders. Males accounted for more than three out of every four offenders (77%) in 2008-09.
Repeat offenders
The following analysis on repeat offenders is based on the aggregate data for all jurisdictions, except Western Australia. National data are not available for police proceedings counts. For more information see Explanatory Notes paragraph 44.
The majority of offenders (74%) were proceeded against by police only once during 2008-09, with a further 15% of offenders proceeded against on two occasions and 6% on three occasions. Four percent of offenders had been proceeded against on five or more separate occasions during 2008-09. These proportions were very similar to those in 2007-08. There were proportionally more male offenders than female offenders who were proceeded against on two or more occasions during 2008-09; 27% compared to 22% respectively.
Offenders, Number of times proceeded against by sex
- combined selected states and territories(a)
Offenders aged 10 to 19 years had the highest average number of times proceeded against by police, at 1.7 times per offender. After this age group, the average number of times that an offender was proceeded against by police during 2008-09 generally decreased as an offender's age increased. Offenders aged 65 years and over had the lowest average number of times proceeded against, at 1.1 times per offender.
Offenders, Average number of times proceeded against by age
- combined selected states and territories(a)
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