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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YOUTH OFFENDERS

Youth offenders are referred to here as offenders aged between 10 and 19 years of age. The number of youth offenders decreased by 5,360 offenders (6%) to 92,005 between 2011-12 and 2012-13 and comprised just under a quarter (24%) of the total offender population. This population group represents 14% of the total Australian Estimated Resident Population (ERP). (Table 2, Table 6)

Offender rates increased for each year of age from 10 years (218 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years) to peak at 18 years (6,362 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 18 years). (Table 6)

Sex

Youth offender rates for males were higher than youth offender rates for females for each year of age. The male offender rate was highest for those aged 18 years (9,772 offenders per 100,000 males aged 18 years), which was more than three times higher than the rate for all male offenders (3,080 offenders per 100,000 males aged 10 years and over).

The highest offender rate for females was also at the age of 18 years (2,731 offenders per 100,000 females aged 18 years), which was more than three times higher than the rate for all female offenders (847 offenders per 100,000 females aged 10 years and over). (Table 6)

Principal offence

Between 2011-12 and 2012-13, the largest changes in youth offending rates (per 100,000 persons aged 10-19 years) were for the principal offences of:
  • Theft (a decrease of 134 offenders, or 15%);
  • Acts intended to cause injury (a decrease of 51 offenders, or 10%);
  • Miscellaneous offences (an increase of 51 offenders, or 27%); and
  • Illicit drug offences (an increase of 44 offenders, or 13%). (Table 15)

Graph Image for YOUTH OFFENDER RATE(a), Selected principal offence(b) - 2011-12 and 2012-13

Annotation(s): (a) Rate per 100,000 population aged 10–19 years (see Explanatory Notes paragraphs 17–22). (b) Excludes Division 14, Subdivision 041 and Group 1523 of the ANZSOC (see Appendix 3). Some division names have been abbreviated (see Explanatory Notes paragraphs 44–45).

Source(s): Recorded Crime - Offenders



The youth offender rate for the principal offence of Theft was highest for offenders aged 16 years (1,391 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 16 years). Public order offences was the most prevalent principal offence for those aged 18 years (1,447 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 18 years) and for those aged 19 years (1,395 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 19 years). The youth offender rate for Illicit drug offences increased for each year of age from 10 to 19 years. (Table 6)

Graph Image for YOUTH OFFENDER RATE(a), Selected principal offence by age

Footnote(s): (a) Rate per 100,000 population for each year of age (see Explanatory Notes paragraphs 17–22).

Source(s): Recorded Crime - Offenders