4519.0 - Recorded Crime - Offenders, 2014-15 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/02/2016   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All


REPEAT OFFENDERS

The majority of offenders in all selected states and territories were proceeded against only once in 2014-15. Since the introduction of national data in 2008-09, the proportion of offenders proceeded against more than once has increased in New South Wales (up from 22% to 28%), Victoria (20% to 24%), Queensland (26% to 31%) and the Northern Territory (27% to 34%). In contrast, the proportion of repeat offenders has decreased in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. (Table 16)

Graph Image for OFFENDERS, Proportion of repeat offenders, by selected states and territories(a), 2010-11 to 2014-15

Footnote(s): (a) Excludes Western Australia (see Explanatory Notes paragraph 71). (b) South Australian data may be overstated (see Explanatory Notes paragraphs 67-68). (c) Australian Capital Territory data may be overstated (see Explanatory Notes paragraphs 81-82).

Source(s): Recorded Crime - Offenders



Young offenders were the most likely to be proceeded against more than once, with the 10-14 year old age group having the highest proportion of repeat offenders in all selected states and territories. In the Northern Territory, nearly half (48%), of all 10-14 year old offenders were proceeded against more than once, while it was more than a third (36%) in New South Wales and Queensland. (Table 17)

Data on the number of proceedings that police initiated against offenders are not available for Western Australia (refer to paragraph 71 of the Explanatory Notes). As such, no repeat offender data are published for Western Australia, and national totals cannot be produced.