NSW Criminal Courts Statistics 2008
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Release date: 7 October 2009
Embargo Wednesday the 7th of October, 11.00AM
New court statistics released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research show that in the Local Court between 2007 and 2008:
- The percentage of convicted Indigenous offenders given a prison sentence for break, enter and steal increased by 15 per cent (from 59.1 per cent to 67.8 per cent).
- The number of domestic apprehended violence orders per head of population being granted in Far West Statistical Division increased by 46 per cent (from 832.7/100,000 pop. to 1,218.3/100,000 pop.)
- The number of personal violence orders per head of population being granted in the Far West Statistical Division increased by 51 per cent (from 249.8 per 100,000 pop. to 378.2/100,000 pop).
- The rate at which people are being convicted of offences in the category 'acts intended to cause injury' in the Far West Statistical Division (from 525.9/100,000 pop. to 417.8/100,000 pop.) fell by 21 per cent.
- The rate at which people are being convicted of illicit drug offences in the Inner Sydney statistical subdivision rose by 21 per cent (from 200.5/100,000 pop. to 242.6 per 100,000 pop.).
In the Children's Court between 2007 and 2008:
- The number of juveniles appearing in court and convicted of one or more offences rose by 17 per cent (from 6,318 to 7,373)
- The number of juveniles refused bail rose by 48 per cent (from 1,094 to 1,616)
- The number of juveniles receiving control orders rose by 18 per cent (from 670 to 788)
In the District Court between 2007 and 2008, the median delay between committal for trial and trial finalisation for defendants refused bail but eventually acquitted of all charges increased by 37 per cent, from 138 days to 190 days. The number of cases affected (64), however, was comparatively small.
Commenting on the findings, the director of the Bureau, Dr Don Weatherburn, said that the increase apprehended violence orders in the Far West was not the result of an increase in violence in that part of the State. "Reports of domestic assault are stable in the Far West Statistical Division"' he said.
"The increase in apprehended violence orders most probably reflects an increase in the willingness of victims of violence to enlist the aid of police and courts to protect themselves from violence, intimidation and harassment".
Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn 0419-494-408