NCJ Number
68857
Date Published
1979
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT ANALYZES UNIFORM CRIME DATA IN AUSTRALIA FROM 1964-65 TO 1977-78.
Abstract
THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE OF INCREASE IN HOMICIDE, BUT THERE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES AMONG JURISDICTIONS, WITH THE NORTHERN TERRITORY HAVING BY FAR THE HIGHEST AVERAGE RATE WITH 17.02 PER 100,000 POPULATION, FOLLOWED BY QUEENSLAND WITH 4.16 PER 100,000. THE RATE OF SERIOUS ASSAULT PEAKED IN 1971-72 AND DECREASED UNTIL 1974-75, BUT THIS PROBABLY RESULTED FROM THE INTERPRETATION OF THE DEFINITION OF THE OFFENSE RATHER THAN FROM ACTUAL DECREASES IN THE CRIME'S INCIDENCE. THE ASSAULT RATE INCREASED FROM 17.2 PER 100,000 IN 1964-65 TO 29.3 IN 1977-78, WHILE DURING THAT TIME THE NORTHERN TERRITORY AND VICTORIA HAD MUCH HIGHER RATES THAN THE OTHER PROVINCES. HOWEVER, THESE DATA CANNOT NECESSARILY BE ACCEPTED AS RELIABLE. FROM 1964-65 TO 1971-72 THERE WAS A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE ROBBERY RATES, BUT SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE CHANGE. NEW SOUTH WALES, VICTORIA, AND THE NORTHERN TERRITORY HAD CONSIDERABLY WORSE PROBLEMS WITH ROBBERY THAN ALL OTHER JURISDICTIONS. THE RAPE RATE INCREASED STEADILY BUT THAT MAY BE BECAUSE OF AN INCREASED WILLINGNESS OF VICTIMS TO REPORT THE CRIME. THE NORTHERN TERRITORY HAD A MUCH HIGHER RATE FOR RAPE THAN THE OTHERS. THE MAJOR INCREASES FOR BREAKING AND ENTERING OCCURRED FREOM 1964-65 TO 1971-72 WITH ANOTHER SHARP INCREASE IN 1977-78. FOR THIS CRIME, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AND VICTORIA HAD THE HIGHEST RATES. THE MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT RATE INCREASED STEADILY AND DOUBLED DURING THE 14-YEAR PERIOD, WHILE THE NORTHERN TERRITORY AND NEW SOUTH WALES HAD THE HIGHEST AVERAGE RATES. FRAUD OFFENSES ALSO INCREASED WITH THE NORTHERN TERRITORY AND THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITOL TERRITORY HAVING THE HIGHEST RATES. RATES FOR MOST SERIOUS CRIMES STABILIZED IN THE 1970'S FOLLOWING LARGE INCREASES IN THE 1960'S. THE OVERALL CRIME RATE INCREASED 158.1 PERCENT ABOVE THE POPULATION INCREASE OVER THE 14-YEAR PERIOD. TABLES ARE INCLUDED.