NCJ Number
82821
Date Published
1981
Length
65 pages
Annotation
Data summaries are presented for cases disposed of by the Supreme Court and the district criminal courts of South Australia during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1981.
Abstract
Two summary tables are provided: one for all cases, showing the level of court, the type of plea, and outcome, and the second being a summary of all case and defendant details, irrespective of the offense. Tables for selected offenses are grouped into four major categories: offenses against persons, sexual offenses, offenses against property, and drug offenses. Tables detail the plea, outcome, and sentence of all offenses. The duration of court hearing is indicated for selected major offenses only. Only 7 percent of defendants were females. Most defendants were aged 25 or younger. Those charged with robbery and burglary offenses were the youngest, with a mean age of 22. Aboriginal people constituted less than 6 percent of all defendants. They comprise about 17 percent of those charged with robbery, but few were charged with 'white-collar' offenses. Fifty-four percent of defendants before the courts, whose employment status was known, were unemployed. Just under one-third of the defendants for whom a criminal record was available had no previous adult convictions, and a further one-third had three or more convictions. Burglary and robbery defendants were more likely to have a criminal record. Almost all defendants were legally represented at their first appearance in court. Four-fifths of the cases in the district criminal courts and two-thirds of those in the Supreme Court pled guily. Sixty-two percent were guilty as charged, with 24 percent found guilty of a lesser offense. Of those found guilty as charged, one-third were sentenced to imprisonment. Suspended sentences were given to slightly over half of those found guilty. The data collection form is appended. (Author summary Modified)