NCJ Number
168267
Date Published
1997
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This bulletin presents the results from the first time intervals survey of 1997; it covers all indictable cases completed in magistrates' courts during the third week of February 1997.
Abstract
The bulletin is divided into three sections. The first section describes the results of the February survey and compares the aggregated results from the latest three surveys with those from similar periods in previous years. The second section contains tables of the results of this and past years, and the third section contains methodological notes and additional information. Major findings of the survey were: (1) The average time from offense to completion for defendants in indictable cases at magistrates' courts rose to 138 days from 134 days in the previous February and 132 days in February 1995; (2) The increase over February 1996 was due to a rise in the average time from first listing to completion; (3) The average number of adjournments per case rose to 2.8 in February 1997 from 2.6 in February 1996 and February 1995; and (4) The average length of adjournments was 23 days in February 1997, the same as in February 1996 although shorter than the 25 days recorded in each February survey from 1993 to 1995. The proportion of cases completed on first listing fell to 18 percent in February 1997 from 19 percent a year earlier and in February 1995. Figures, tables