TASMANIA


TOTAL OFFENDERS

In 2015–16, there were 10,842 offenders in Tasmania, an increase of less than 1% from 2014–15. (Table 6)


SEX

Tasmania and Victoria had the second highest proportion of male offenders (both 79%), behind the Australian Capital Territory (81%). (Tables 8–15)

Between 2014–15 and 2015–16, the number of male offenders increased in Tasmania by 2% (138 offenders) while the number of female offenders decreased by 4% (91 offenders). (Table 13)


AGE

The median age of Tasmanian offenders continued to increase, from 27 years in 2014–15 to 28 years in 2015–16. In 2009-10 the median age was 24, the lowest for Tasmania in the time series. (Table 13)


PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

From the beginning of the time series in 2008–09 to 2015–16, the number of offenders proceeded against by police in Tasmania declined by 27% (3,984 offenders). Over the same period:

• Acts intended to cause injury decreased by 22% (516 offenders)
• Theft and related offences decreased by 36% (472 offenders)
• Illicit drug offences decreased by 32% (630 offenders)
• Public order offences decreased by 15% (593 offenders) (Table 6)

YOUTH OFFENDERS

Between 2014–15 and 2015–16, the number of Tasmanian youth offenders decreased by 5% or 64 offenders.

Since the beginning of the time series in 2008–09 the Tasmanian youth offender rate has decreased by more than half, down 55% from 4,806 to 2,175 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10–17 years. (Table 19)


POLICE PROCEEDINGS

In 2015–16, the total number of police proceedings increased by 4% (or 565 proceedings) from 2014–15. (Table 30)

Court actions increased by 5% (or 435 proceedings), mainly due to an increase of 25% (295 proceedings) in Offences against justice. Non-court actions increased by 2% (or 119 proceedings) with Public order offences accounting for 54% of all non-court actions (or 3,622 proceedings). (Table 30)

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.