Patterns of Criminality in New South Wales, 1788–1973

Abstract

This study presents the initial report of the author's research on the history of the New South Wales criminal justice system. Following a review of available crime statistics from 19th and 20th century New South Wales, the major methodological obstacles to the longitudinal study of criminality are discussed, and corrective measures are suggested which permit use of existing data for illustrative and analytical purposes. Long term trends in the rate of serious offences against persons, property, and sexual morality in New South Wales reflect patterns typical of most Western industrial societies; gross trends over the history of New South Wales have been downward, with slight reversals occurring since World War II in the cases of acquisitive crime and sexual offences. Multiple regression analysis was employed in an effort to discern with greater precision the determinants of the trends in question; the over representation of males in the early 19th century and the urban growth characteristic of 20th century New South Wales emerged as the most significant correlates of the forms of criminality under investigation. The study concludes with a discussion of strategies for future research in historical and comparative contexts.