NCJ Number
243927
Date Published
2013
Length
165 pages
Annotation
Statistics are provided for cases processed by New South Wales criminal courts (Australia) in 2012 compared with 2011, which include local courts, children's court, and higher courts.
Abstract
New South Wales local courts charged 108,528 persons in 2012 compared to 115,206 persons charged in 2011. Most charges were for driving while intoxicated with alcohol or other substances, followed by assaults, driver license offenses, and the possession and/or use of illicit drugs. Statistics for local courts also address the outcome of court appearances; the percentage of cases with legal representation; and the percentage of persons found guilty with and without legal representation. Bail status is also reported for local courts. In addition, local court statistics address sentences; persons found guilty by age and gender; court delay; prior offenses; apprehended violence orders (AVOs) granted; and regional rate of court appearances. For the children's court of New South Wales, 7,919 persons were charged in 2012 compared to 8,633 in 2011. Persons were most frequently charged with property damage, followed closely by assault. Data are provided on bail status, case outcomes (percentage found guilty) and penalty for the principal offense. The age and gender of defendants are reported, as are court delays and the percentage of persons found guilty who had no prior proven offenses in the previous 10 years. Data for higher courts encompass the New South Wales Supreme Court and District Court. The most frequently charged offense was sexual assault and related offenses, followed by burglary, robbery, and assault. Court data also cover case outcomes, sentences, bail status, age and gender of persons found guilty, court delay, prior proven offenses, and appeals. In some data categories, separate tables are provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons. Extensive tables