NCJ Number
239500
Date Published
May 2012
Length
165 pages
Annotation
This Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research report provides a 2011 Criminal Courts Statistics Report.
Abstract
Results indicate that the decrease in people being sent to prison appears to be due to a combination of factors: first, there are fewer people coming before the court, and second, for some offenses, the proportion of offenders receiving a sentence of imprisonment has fallen. Data show that between 2010 and 2011 there was a 4.5 percent decrease in the number of persons/organizations with a matter finalized in the local court; a 10.7 percent decrease in the number of offenders receiving a sentence of imprisonment; and a 3.9 percent decrease in the number of indigenous people found guilty. However the data also show that Indigenous people continued to account for 13 percent of local court appearances; and there was 6.7 percent increase in the median delay from first appearance to determination for people in custody who had a defended hearing and had all charges dismissed. In children's court, there were no changes in the number of persons with a matter finalized; and no changes in the number of Indigenous children charged. However, indigenous children continue to account for 38 percent of children's court appearances, a 7.6 percent increase in the number of children on remand (that is, bail refused) at finalization, and an 8.9 percent decrease in the number of persons receiving a control order as a penalty. In the higher courts there was a 24 percent increase in the median delay between committal for trial and trial finalization for defendants refused bail but eventually acquitted of all charges in the district court. Only 57 cases were affected. Tables and appendixes