Impact of Structural Ageing on Crime Trends: A South Australian Case Study

• NCJ Number: 238361
• Author(s): Lisa Rosevear
• Date Published: February 2012
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: AIC Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice No. 431, February 2012

Annotation

This paper investigates the impact of structural ageing on crime patterns in South Australia.

Abstract

Findings show that South Australian apprehension trends indicate that structural ageing has reduced, and should continue to reduce apprehension levels for both males and females. Without a decline in the proportion of young people in the population age structure, apprehension levels would have been higher than observed. Assuming that the population ages as projected, apprehension levels are estimated to be lower than projections would otherwise suggest. A case study of the South Australian population is provided in a State where the relevant data was available to investigate how the declining proportion of younger people and increasing proportion of older people in the population has reduced past crime levels and should reduce future crime levels. While the South Australian population is ageing at a greater rate than some other jurisdictions, this paper has national relevance as the populations in all States and territories are ageing to some degree and as this occurs, the impact on crime levels should be evident throughout Australia. Tables, figures, and references