4519.0 - Recorded Crime - Offenders, Selected states and territories, 2007-08

Quality Declaration

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/08/2009 First Issue

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Contents >> South Australia >> PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

The predominant principal offence that offenders were proceeded against was illicit drug offences (28% of all offenders). The next most prevalent principal offences were public order offences (18%), followed by acts intended to cause injury (17%).

While illicit drug offences was the main principal offence for both male and female offenders (29% of males and 24% of females), there were contrasts for other offence types between the sexes. Females were more commonly proceeded against for theft as their principal offence (22%) and public order offences (17%), while males had a higher proportion of acts intended to cause injury (18%).

Offenders, Selected principal offence by sex, South Australia
Graph: Offenders, Selected principal offence by sex, South Australia

Age was a factor when considering the type of principal offence that someone was proceeded against by police. Based on the median age of offenders by each principal offence type, offenders were younger for principal offences relating to unlawful entry with intent (median age of 19 years) and property damage and environmental pollution (median age of 20 years). Offenders proceeded against for sexual assault had the oldest median age at 35 years.

Offenders, Principal offence by median age, South Australia
Graph: Offenders, Principal offence by median age, South Australia