Media Release: NSW Criminal Courts Statistics 2013
Full report -
NSW Criminal Courts Statistics 2013 (pdf 1.6Mb)
NSW Criminal Courts Statistics 2013
Release date: Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Embargo: 10.30am
The time taken to finalise trial cases in the District Criminal Court has increased significantly, according to the annual Criminal Court Statistics Report, released today by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.
Between 2012 and 2013, the time from committal to outcome for defendants on bail rose by 23 per cent (from 246 days to 302 days) while the time from committal to outcome for defendants in custody on remand rose by 6 per cent (from 233 days to 246 days).
Over the same time period, the number of persons finalised in the Higher Courts increased by 9.7 per cent (from 3,297 to 3,618). Most of this increase occurred in the District Court.
The offences showing the largest increases in the Higher Courts over this two year period were:
- Persons charged with robbery, extortion and related offences: up 114 (19.0%)
- Persons charged with unlawful entry with intent/burglary, break and enter: up 103 (18.2%)
- Persons charged with illicit drug offences: up 89 (10.6%) - Persons charged with sexual assault and related offences: up 71 (14.5 %)
- Persons charged with theft and related offences: up 47 (8.4%)
- Persons charged with prohibited and regulated weapons and explosive offences: up 43 (23.1%)
In the Higher Courts, the number of persons sentenced to imprisonment rose slightly from 1,943 in 2012 to 2,169 in 2013, while the percentage of persons sentenced to imprisonment stayed roughly the same (69.3% in 2012 versus 69.1% in 2013).
The percentage of Higher Court defendants on remand (at final court appearance) decreased from 35.7 per cent to 29.4 per cent.
In the Local Court, the number of persons sentenced to imprisonment rose from 6,901 in 2012 (7.2% of all penalties) to 7,408 in 2013 (8.0% of all penalties). This is despite a modest fall in the total number of defendants finalised in the Local Court (down 3.3%).
The percentage of Local Court defendants on remand (at final court appearance) also rose from 5.8 per cent to 6.5 per cent.
In the Children's Court, there was no change in the percentage of persons sentenced to a control order but the number given a control order dropped slightly (from 727 to 695).
The percentage of Children's Court defendants on remand (at final court appearance) rose slightly, from 11.9 per cent to 12.6 per cent.
Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn (02) 9231-9190
Copies of the report: www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au