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 – AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

TOTAL OFFENDERS

    • In 2012-13, there were 3,031 offenders in the Australian Capital Territory, which represented a decrease of 9% (or 287 offenders) from 2011-12.
    • The (crude) offender rate decreased by 11% from 1,023 in 2011-12 to 916 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 decreased by 9% (or 241 offenders) to 2,340; and
    • The number of female offenders decreased by 6% (or 46 offenders) to 691.

AGE

Between 2011-12 and 2012-13:
    • The median age of offenders increased from 23 years to 24 years; and
    • The number of youth offenders decreased by 24% (or 281 offenders) from 1,151 to 870.
PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2012-13, the five most common principal offences in the Australian Capital Territory were:
    • Public order offences (27%, or 804 offenders);
    • Acts intended to cause injury (18%, or 554 offenders);
    • Theft (17%, or 508 offenders);
    • Illicit drug offences (11%, or 323 offenders); and
    • Offences against justice (8%, or 226 offenders).

REPEAT OFFENDERS

15% 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 decreased by 8% (or 340 proceedings) from 2011-12.

Court actions decreased by 8% (or 176 proceedings):
    • Acts intended to cause injury was the most common offence proceeded against by court actions, accounting for 26% of all court actions (or 559 proceedings).
Non-court actions decreased by 9% (or 164 proceedings):
    • Public order offences was the most common offence proceeded against by non-court actions, accounting for 48% of all non-court actions (or 780 proceedings).
OTHER KEY POINTS

In 2012-13, the Australian Capital Territory had:
    • The lowest offender rate (916 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over);
    • The highest proportion of youth offenders (29% or 870 offenders); and
    • The largest decrease in youth offenders (24% or 281 offenders). The youth offender population (10-19 years) decreased by 6% nationally.

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.