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Australian Prisons Census: Estimating Remand Times

NCJ Number
158233
Journal
Journal of Quantitative Criminology Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1995) Pages: 315-336
Author(s)
M F Collins; J Walker; J Copas
Date Published
1995
Length
22 pages
Annotation
By applying a renewal theory model to data from the Australian Prisons Census, the authors estimate the number of remand receptions in prisons and mean and median remand times served by prisoners during the 1982-1990 period.
Abstract
Data show that, despite general increases in court delays and a large increase in the remand reception rate between 1982 and 1990, remand times have been stable. The median remand time for 1990 was 1.7 weeks, and about 75 to 88 percent of remandees were dealt with by lower courts. Comparisons between official figures for various Australian states and figures for Canada, England, and Wales indicate a significantly lower Australian remand rate. Factors affecting the remand rate in Australia are examined, and the need to monitor national prison remand trends is emphasized. Additional information and equations pertinent to the study methodology are appended. 31 references, 5 tables, and 3 figures