NCJ Number
138563
Date Published
1992
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This survey studies the time intervals for indictable proceedings in British magistrates' courts, covering "either-way" cases completed in the sample week in February 1992.
Abstract
The findings showed that the average length of time from the commission of a crime to completion of processing in the magistrates' courts for indictable cases was 129 days; this represented a decrease of 3 days over figures from February 1991. The decrease was attributed to a shortening of the intervals between offense to charge and between charge to first listing in court. While the average number of adjournments fell from 2.6 in February 1991 to 2.7 a year later, the average length of adjournments increased from 26 to 27 days. The percentage of indictable cases completed at first court appearance was 19 percent, the same level as in 1991. 2 tables, 2 figures, and 7 notes