4517.0 - Prisoners in Australia, 2009 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 10/12/2009   
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MOST SERIOUS OFFENCE/CHARGE

A most serious offence/charge is determined for each prisoner (see Explanatory Notes, paragraphs 74-77). At 30 June 2009, with the exception of Victoria, the most prevalent offence/charge for prisoners in all states and territories was acts intended to cause injury. The Northern Territory had the highest proportion of its prisoner population with this offence type, at 38%, double the national figure of 19%.

For Victoria, the most prevalent offence/charge was sexual assault which accounted for 16% of the prisoner population, followed by acts intended to cause injury at 14%. Sexual assault had the next highest proportion of prisoners for Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory, as well as nationally. The proportion of prisoners with a most serious offence/charge of illicit drugs was 3% in the Australian Capital Territory and 4% in the Northern Territory, well below the national figure of 11%.

Proportion of sentenced prisoners, selected most serious offence, states and territories(a)
Graph: Proportion of sentenced prisoners, selected most serious offence, states and territories(a)








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