NCJ Number
183535
Date Published
February 2000
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This bulletin presents the results of the October 1999 Time Intervals Survey and three 1999 Time Intervals Surveys combined; these surveys collected information on indictable cases completed in magistrate courts in England and Wales during one week each of February, June, and October.
Abstract
The October 1999 survey indicated the average time from offense to completion for defendants in indictable cases decreased to 116 days, from 122 days in October 1998 and 132 days in October 1997. There was an average of 2.3 adjournments for defendants in indictable cases in October 1999, a decrease from 2.4 and 2.6 in October 1998 and October 1997, respectively. The average time from offense to completion was 124 days in 1999 overall, while the average time from offense to charge or laying of information was 46 days. The average time from offense to charge or laying of information showed the greatest variation between offense groups (violence, sex offenses, burglary, robbery, theft, fraud and forgery, criminal damage, drug offenses, indictable motoring offenses, and other indictable offenses). Of defendants proceeded against for indictable cases in 1999, 95 percent were charged and 5 percent received summons. For defendants who were remanded to custody in 1999, the average time from first listing to completion decreased from 45 days in 1998 to 43 days in 1999. The average time from offense to completion for defendants in indictable cases in youth courts fell to 106 days in October 1999, from 116 days in October 1998 and 129 days in October 1997. Data are also provided on criminal proceedings in magistrate courts by police force area. 19 notes, 14 tables, and 5 figures