RECORDED CRIME - OFFENDERS, 2014-15 - VICTORIA

TOTAL OFFENDERS

In 2014-15, there were 80,933 offenders in Victoria, which accounted for 20% of all offenders in Australia.

Between 2013-14 and 2014-15:

• The number of offenders decreased by 3% or 2,173 offenders; and
• The (crude) offender rate decreased by 4% from 1,643 to 1,572 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over.

SEX

• Males continued to account for the majority of offenders, making up 80% of the Victorian offender population in 2014-15.
• Between 2013-14 and 2014-15, the number of male and female offenders both decreased (by 2% or 1,490 offenders and 4% or 680 offenders, respectively).

PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2014-15, the five most common principal offences in Victoria were:

• Acts intended to cause injury (16,440 offenders, or 20%);
• Miscellaneous offences (13,067 offenders, or 16%);
• Theft (11,086 offenders, or 14%);
• Public order offences (10,487 offenders, or 13%); and
• Illicit drug offences (9,706 offenders, or 12%).

Acts intended to cause injury increased for the fourth consecutive year (up 202 offenders or 1%), which contributed to an overall increase of 4,129 offenders or 34% since 2010-11.

Victoria had the highest number of offenders with a principal offence of Abduction/harassment, contributing almost one-third of the national total.



REPEAT OFFENDERS

In 2014-15, 24% of offenders were proceeded against on two or more separate occasions within the year. The proportion of repeat offenders in Victoria has been steadily increasing from 19% in 2010-11.

YOUTH OFFENDERS

From 2013-14, youth offenders decreased by 1,801 persons or 11% to 15,222 youth offenders in Victoria. This was the largest decrease in youth offenders across the states and territories and accounted for 83% of the overall decline in the Victorian offender population.

For the second year in a row, the most common principal offences for youth offenders were Theft and Acts intended to cause injury (24% or 3,579 offenders and 17% or 2,618 offenders, respectively in 2014-15).

POLICE PROCEEDINGS

In 2014-15, the total number of police proceedings increased by less than one percent (or 244 proceedings) from 2013-14.

• Court actions increased by 8% (or 5,436 proceedings). Over the past five years, Acts intended to cause injury has remained the most common offence proceeded against by court actions, accounting for 26% of all court actions (or 19,762 proceedings) in 2014-15.
• Non-court actions decreased by 10% (or 5,178 proceedings). Public order offences was the most common offence proceeded against by non-court actions, accounting for 34% of all non-court actions (or 15,923 proceedings).

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.