❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding proposed legislation to increase prison penalties for offences against seniors. The response details the complexities of predicting crime rates and explains the calculation behind the projected increase of seven prison beds.
AnsweredQoN 397Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Government’s proposed legislation to increase significantly prison penalties for a range of offences committed against seniors. (1) On average, how many fewer offences a year have been calculated will be committed against seniors as a result of this proposal? (2) How has that figure been calculated? (3) How does the average prison term for such offences increase to result in the net increase of seven beds a year projected in answer to my question without notice of 31 July 2001? (4) How did the minister arrive at the increase of seven beds a year? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(1) On average, how many fewer offences a year have been calculated will be committed against seniors as a result of this proposal? (2) How has that figure been calculated? (3) How does the average prison term for such offences increase to result in the net increase of seven beds a year projected in answer to my question without notice of 31 July 2001? (4) How did the minister arrive at the increase of seven beds a year? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(2) How has that figure been calculated? (3) How does the average prison term for such offences increase to result in the net increase of seven beds a year projected in answer to my question without notice of 31 July 2001? (4) How did the minister arrive at the increase of seven beds a year? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(3) How does the average prison term for such offences increase to result in the net increase of seven beds a year projected in answer to my question without notice of 31 July 2001? (4) How did the minister arrive at the increase of seven beds a year? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(4) How did the minister arrive at the increase of seven beds a year? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
*(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
*(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(1) On average, how many fewer offences a year have been calculated will be committed against seniors as a result of this proposal? (2) How has that figure been calculated? (3) How does the average prison term for such offences increase to result in the net increase of seven beds a year projected in answer to my question without notice of 31 July 2001? (4) How did the minister arrive at the increase of seven beds a year? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(2) How has that figure been calculated? (3) How does the average prison term for such offences increase to result in the net increase of seven beds a year projected in answer to my question without notice of 31 July 2001? (4) How did the minister arrive at the increase of seven beds a year? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(3) How does the average prison term for such offences increase to result in the net increase of seven beds a year projected in answer to my question without notice of 31 July 2001? (4) How did the minister arrive at the increase of seven beds a year? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(4) How did the minister arrive at the increase of seven beds a year? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(1) Changes in levels of reported crime are the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, such as the effects of early intervention and crime prevention initiatives, changes in police practices, the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the specific and general deterrent effects of sentencing, not to mention the vast number of social factors that influence crime. Given that it is not possible to state exactly what the impact of only one of these factors will be, the Government expects that the trend toward a decrease in the amount of crime committed against those aged 55 and over, as reported in two independent reports, will be maintained. 1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
1997 1998 1999 2000 Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
Recorded crime *(1) 5.0% 5.3% 4.4% N/A Victimisation surveys *(2) N/A N/A 1.5% 1.3% *(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
*(1) Crime Research Centre - Crime and Justice Statistics for WA 1999 - percentage of victims aged 55 and over of offences against the person. *(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
*(2) Australian Bureau of Statistics - Crime and Safety Survey - percentage of victims reporting offences against the person aged 55 and over. Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
Although changes to the counting rules and definitions across the surveys make direct comparison difficult, there is sufficient recent information -1997 onwards - to suggest that the trend is towards a decrease in the number of elderly people being the victim of a personal crime. (2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(2) See (1). (3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(3) Assault occasioning bodily harm from 12 months to 14.4 months Robbery from 24 months to 26.16 months Other offences against the person from 6.5 months to 7.8 months Fraud from 5.8 months to 6.3 months (4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
(4) An estimate of the impact of the proposed legislation was made by combining information from two different sources: the Department of Justice’s prisoner information system and the Crime and Safety Crime and Justice Statistics 1999 Report. In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
In respect of the calculation, there were 257 persons imprisoned for assault occasioning bodily harm in 1999-2000. Applying the three per cent victimisation rate for victims over 55 from the CRC data, it is estimated that seven of these 257 persons were likely to have offended against a person over the age of 55. A conservative assumption was then made that the mean sentence length of this group of seven offenders would increase by 20 per cent as a result of the increase in the maximum sentence for this offence contained in the legislation; that is, from 12 months to 14.4 months, an increase of 2.4 months. From this group of seven offenders, this equates to an additional 16.8 months of imprisonment or 1.4 prison beds. Similar calculations were made for the other offences, providing an estimated total of seven additional beds required.
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