NCJ Number
140672
Date Published
1992
Length
203 pages
Annotation
This report presents statistical data on reported crime, arrests, court appearances and dispositions, corrections, and juvenile courts in South Australia in 1991.
Abstract
Reported offenses declines by 1 percent in 1991, with property offenses decreasing 2.7 percent and auto theft decreasing 7.1 percent. However, robbery and extortion offenses increased by 27 percent, offenses against persons by 7.1 percent, and sex offenses by 12.7 percent. A total of 36,734 criminal cases were disposed by summary courts, with 63.1 percent of defendants convicted of the major charge and another 1.5 percent of a lesser charge. The most common sentence was a fine (43.2 percent), followed by driver's license suspension (27.3 percent). Imprisonment was imposed in 7.1 percent of cases. The Supreme and District Criminal Court disposed 17.3 percent more cases in 1991 than in 1990, with suspended imprisonment the most common major penalty. Eleven life sentences were imposed, all for murder, with an average non-parole period of 25 years and 3 months. The prison population increased in 1991. Appearances before juvenile courts increased by 0.8 percent, while appearances before Children's Aid Panels declined by 8.3 percent. Most juvenile offenses were property crimes. Tables and appended background information and list of courts