KEY FINDINGS

The number of offenders proceeded against by police in Australia during 2016–17 decreased for the first time since 2011–12, down 1% since 2015–16, from 418,352 to 413,894.

The Australian offender rate also decreased for this period, from 2,005 to 1,949 offenders per 100,000 persons. (Table 1)


OFFENDER NUMBERS DECREASED IN MOST STATES AND TERRITORIES

From 2015–16 to 2016–17 there were decreases in offender numbers in:

• Victoria, down 3% or 1,910 offenders
• Queensland, down 4% or 4,225 offenders
• Australian Capital Territory, down 4% or 102 offenders
• Northern Territory, down 2% or 202 offenders
• South Australia, down 1% or 389 offenders

There were increases in:

• Western Australia (up 5% or 1,778 offenders)
• Tasmania (up 2% or 216 offenders)
• New South Wales (up less than 1% or 380 offenders)

These changes represent a decrease in the offender rate between 2015–16 and 2016–17 for all states and territories except Western Australia and Tasmania. (Table 6)


MALE OFFENDERS DOWN, FEMALE OFFENDERS UP

From 2015–16 to 2016–17 male offenders decreased by 2% (6,074 offenders) while female offenders increased by 2% (1,448 offenders). This was the fifth successive increase in female offenders.

However, in 2016–17 the male offender rate (3,005 male offenders per 100,000 males) continues to be more than three times the female offender rate (910 female offenders per 100,000 females). (Table 2)


SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RELATED OFFENCES INCREASED FOR SIXTH TIME

The number of offenders with a principal offence of Sexual assault and related offences increased by 3% from 7,898 offenders in 2015–16 to 8,123 in 2016–17. This was the sixth successive annual increase; since 2010–11 the number of offenders for these offences has increased by 40% (2,327 offenders). (Table 1)


There were increases in offenders with this principal offence in all states and territories except Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. (Table 6)

From 2015–16 to 2016–17 the national number of offenders with a principal offence of:

• Homicide and related offences decreased for the second successive year, down by 5% or 37 offenders
• Robbery/extortion increased by 6% or 194 offenders
• Theft increased by 4% or 3,025 offenders
• Illicit drug offences decreased 3% or 2,044 offenders

This was the first time the number of Illicit drug offenders declined since the beginning of the time series in 2008–09. (Table 1)