NCJ Number
243947
Date Published
November 2012
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined the public's confidence in the New South Wales (NSW) criminal justice system (CJS).
Abstract
This study assesses whether confidence in the NSW CJS has changed since 2007, whether changes in knowledge and/or punitiveness underpin any changes in confidence, and whether confidence in police differs from confidence in the courts. Results indicate levels of confidence in the CJS have improved since 2007. Findings show that participants had high levels of confidence that the CJS respects the rights of the accused and treats them fairly, but experienced lower levels of confidence that the CJS brings people to justice, deals with cases promptly or meets the needs of victims. With the exception of confidence in respecting the rights of the accused, confidence was significantly higher in 2012 than in 2007. The 2012 respondents were also more knowledgeable about crime and justice and less punitive than the 2007 respondents. Respondents tended to have higher levels of confidence in the police than the courts. Data collected using a cross-sectional survey of over 2,000 individuals of the NSW public. Tables, figures, notes, and references