4519.0 - Recorded Crime - Offenders, 2013-14 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/02/2015   
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RECORDED CRIME - OFFENDERS, 2013-14 – SOUTH AUSTRALIA

TOTAL OFFENDERS

  • In 2013-14, there were 49,630 offenders in South Australia, which represented an increase of 10% (or 4,660 offenders) from 2012-13.
  • The (crude) offender rate increased by 9% from 3,068 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2012-13 to 3,357 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2013-14.

SEX

Between 2012-13 and 2013-14:
  • The number of male offenders increased by 10% (or 3,610 offenders) to 38,716; and
  • The number of female offenders increased by 11% (or 1,065 offenders) to 10,696.

AGE

Between 2012-13 and 2013-14:
  • The median age of offenders remained stable at 29 years; and
  • The number of youth offenders increased by 5% (or 419 offenders) from 8,442 to 8,861.

AGE STANDARDISED OFFENDER RATES
  • In 2013-14, the age standardised offender rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was 9,648 offenders per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons aged 10 years and over.
  • The age standardised offender rate for non-Indigenous people was 1,295 offenders per 100,000 non-Indigenous persons aged 10 years and over.
PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2013-14, the five most common principal offences in South Australia were:
  • Illicit drug offences (15,219 offenders or 31% of the total);
  • Public order offences (14,748 offenders or 30% of the total);
  • Theft (5,864 offenders or 12% of the total);
  • Acts intended to cause injury (5,647 offenders or 11% of the total); and
  • Prohibited/regulated weapons (1,709 offenders or 3% of the total).

REPEAT OFFENDERS

In 2013-14, 12% of offenders were proceeded against on two or more separate occasions within the year.

POLICE PROCEEDINGS

In 2013-14, the total number of police proceedings increased by 6% (or 3,516 proceedings) from 2012-13.
  • Court actions decreased by 16% (or 5,348 proceedings). Acts intended to cause injury was the most common offence proceeded against by court actions, accounting for 22% of all court actions (or 6,404 proceedings).
  • Non-court actions increased by 38% (or 8,866 proceedings). Illicit drug offences was the most common offence proceeded against by non-court actions, accounting for 44% of all non-court actions (or 14,041 proceedings).

OTHER KEY POINTS

In 2013-14 South Australia had:
  • The second largest percentage increase in total offenders (10% or 4,660 offenders), after the Northern Territory (19% or 2,093 offenders);
  • The second highest youth offender rate (4,392 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over) after the Northern Territory (7,241 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over); and
  • The highest offender rate for the principal offence of Illicit drug offences (1,030 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over).

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.