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Australian Crime Data
Australian Crime Data
Within Sociology when observing crime its cruical that we use data to observe trends amongst the population.
Through unpacking this data we are able to take an intersectional look at crime to observe the types of people charged with a crime, which can impact social norms, and values.
Age and Crime
Age and Crime
Government statistics indicate that on average, young people in Australia engage in a greater number of criminal activites then adults.
This can be due to things such as peer influence, socio-economic challenges and the processes of personal and social development.
The 2021-22 Australian Beareu of Statistics summary found that the police proceeded against 45,210 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years, an increase of 2% from 2020-21
However, accounting for population the youth offender rate decreased from 1785 offenders per 100,000 people in 2020-21 to 1778 in 2021-22.
More then one in five youth offenders were charged with acts intending to cause injury. The next most common offence type were miscellaneous Covid 19 related offences. From previous years there was a 14% decrease in illcit drug offences from the previous year.
Questions to complete
Questions to complete
Based on the above graph outline the most and least likely ages of people to commit crime
Identify why you believe that young people are more likely to commit crime
Identify why you believe that amongst young people crimes related to covid-19 were so high
Gender and crime
Gender and crime
As of the 2021 ABS census, 3/4 of offenders charged with a crime were male.
These figures showed that there were:
2482 Male offenders per 100,00 males
789 Female offenders per 100,000 females
Alice Eagly's Social Role Theory attempts to understand why there is such a significant discrepancy between the numbers of males and female offenders in Australia.
Eagly's theory argues that 'widely shared gender stereotypes develop from the gender division of labour that charactises a society'.
Simplified this essentially states that the characterisation of males that they should be 'tough' and a 'risk taker' leads to an increase in males committing crimes. The increased rate of male crime also leads to more male figures being without male role models further expanding the impact of the crime.
Gender in crime can also be viewed through the victim lens. Observing who is being impacted by the crime. According to the 2021 census of the 31,118 sexual assault realted offences, the number of females was six times more then that of males. 58% of Family Domestic Violence related homicides were female. Male victims however make up 70% of violent crimes such as murder and manslaughter.
Country of birth and crime
Country of birth and crime
Where someone was born and their ethnicity does not nessecerily provide a clear indicator of association with crime.
In Australia looking at the victims of crime is a useful way to understand how our society engages with ethnic, religious and cultural diversity.
In Australia the problem of over-representation of ethnic groups are clearest when we consider First Nations people. Despite making up only 2% of Australia's total population, First Nations Australians are 10 times more likely to be imprisoned than otehr Australians. For First Nations youth, this data shows they are 26 times more likely to be incarcerated.
According to the 2022 ABS data 32% of all people in Australian prisons are First Nations. Of First Nations people, 91% were male. 78% of all adult First Nations prisoners have already been prosecuted.
Following the outbreak of Covid-19 miscellaneous related offences for First Nations people increased by 96%.
Questions to complete
Questions to complete
Explain why you believe that First Nations people are 10 times more likely to be incarcerated.
Explain why following Covid 19 miscellaneous offences will have risen so significantly for First Nations people.
Seriousness of offences
Seriousness of offences
Serious Offence: Offences considered serious in nature, typically involving significant harm, violence or a significant threat to public safety or societal wellbeing.
In general crimes such as murder, manslaughter, kidnapping or terrorism are considered serious offences.
Task to complete
Task to complete
Complete your summary of seriousness of offence from the textbook
Find at least 3 statistics relating to seriousness of offence
Complete activity C and D
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