4513.0 - Criminal Courts, Australia, 2011-12 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/02/2013   
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Contents >> Higher Courts >> Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants - Queensland - Higher Courts


ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER DEFENDANTS

Queensland

In 2011-12, 715 defendants (16%) in the Higher Courts in Queensland identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

Graph Image for DEFENDANTS FINALISED(a), Higher Courts, Indigenous Status, Queensland

Footnote(s): (a) Excludes ANZSOC Division 14 and Subdivision 041 (see Explanatory Notes paragraph 50-51) and organisations.

Source(s): Criminal Courts, Australia



The proportion of males and females varied for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants when compared to non-Indigenous defendants, with 20% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants being female compared to 13% of non-Indigenous defendants.

The age profile of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants differed from non-Indigenous defendants. Those aged under 30 accounted for half (50%) of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants compared with 41% of non-Indigenous defendants.

Graph Image for DEFENDANTS FINALISED(a), Higher Courts, Indigenous Status(b) by age, Queensland

Footnote(s): (a) Excludes ANZSOC Division 14 and Subdivision 041 (see Explanatory Notes paragraph 50-51) and organisations. (b) Excludes defendants with an Indigenous Status of not stated.

Source(s): Criminal Courts, Australia



There was also variation when comparing offence categories. The three main offence categories for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants adjudicated in Queensland were: acts intended to cause injury (49%), sexual assault (17%) and robbery and extortion (12%). For non-Indigenous defendants the three main offence categories were: illicit drug offences (24%), acts intended to cause injury (23%), and sexual assault (21%).

In 2011-12, 473 (86%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants proven guilty were sentenced to custodial orders and 1,951 (82%) non-Indigenous defendants were sentenced to custodial orders. By age, there was difference in the younger age groups, with a larger proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants aged under 25 years receiving custodial sentences compared with non-Indigenous defendants.

Graph Image for DEFENDANTS PROVEN GUILTY(a), Higher Courts, Indigenous Status(b), Custodial orders by age, Queensland

Footnote(s): (a) Excludes ANZSOC Division 14 and Subdivision 041 (see Explanatory Notes paragraph 50-51) and organisations. (b) Excludes defendants with an Indigenous Status of not stated.

Source(s): Criminal Courts, Australia



For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants proven guilty and sentenced to a non-custodial order, defendants under 24 years old accounted for half of all defendants (50%), with the age groups under 20 years and 20 to 24 years each representing 25%. For non-Indigenous defendants the age spread was similar, with 20 to 24 years olds accounting for 22% of all non-Indigenous defendants sentenced to a non-custodial order, followed by defendants aged under 20 years (19%).

The age group that least commonly received a non-custodial order varied for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous defendants:
  • there were no Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants aged 55 years and over who were sentenced to a non-custodial order
  • 6% of non-Indigenous defendants aged 50 to 54 years were sentenced to non-custodial orders.



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