4519.0 - Recorded Crime - Offenders, 2012-13 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/02/2014   
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RECORDED CRIME - OFFENDERS, 2012-13 – SOUTH AUSTRALIA

TOTAL OFFENDERS

    • In 2012-13, there were 44,905 offenders in South Australia, which represented an increase of 15% (or 5,916 offenders) from 2011-12.
    • The (crude) offender rate increased by 14% from 2,683 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2011-12 to 3,064 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2012-13.

SEX

Between 2011-12 and 2012-13:
    • The number of male offenders increased by 14% (or 4,396 offenders) to 35,055; and
    • The number of female offenders increased by 17% (or 1,380 offenders) to 9,618.

AGE

Between 2011-12 and 2012-13:
    • The median age of offenders remained stable at 29 years; and
    • The number of youth offenders increased by 11% (or 809 offenders) from 7,632 to 8,441.

AGE STANDARDISED OFFENDER RATES
    • In 2012-13, the age standardised offender rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was 12,413 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 1,399 offenders per 100,000 non-Indigenous persons aged 10 years and over.
PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2012-13, the five most common principal offences in South Australia were:
    • Illicit drug offences (32%, or 14,292 offenders);
    • Public order offences (27%, or 12,035 offenders);
    • Acts intended to cause injury (12%, or 5,435 offenders);
    • Theft (10%, or 4,298 offenders); and
    • Prohibited/regulated weapons (4%, or 1,608 offenders).

REPEAT OFFENDERS

14% of offenders were proceeded against on two or more separate occasions within the year.

POLICE PROCEEDINGS

In 2012-13, the total number of police proceedings increased by 13% (or 6,753 proceedings) from 2011-12.

Court actions increased by 1% (or 346 proceedings):
    • Acts intended to cause injury was the most common offence proceeded against by court actions, accounting for 20% of all court actions (or 6,851 proceedings).
Non-court actions increased by 38% (or 6,407 proceedings):
    • Illicit drug offences was the most common offence proceeded against by non-court actions, accounting for 55% of all non-court actions (or 12,878 proceedings).

OTHER KEY POINTS

In 2012-13 South Australia had:
    • The largest increase in total offenders (15% or 5,916 offenders);
    • The second highest offender rate (3,064 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over) after the Northern Territory (5,498 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over); and
    • The highest proportion of offenders with a principal offence of Illicit drug offences (32% or 14,292 offenders).

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.