NCJ Number
128126
Date Published
1991
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This bulletin presents the results of the October 1990 survey of the time taken to process indictable cases in England and Wales; it also provides more detailed analyses for 1990 as a whole and features breakdowns by type of offense, charge or summons, type of proceedings, type of court remand, and area.
Abstract
Findings indicate that the average time to process indictable cases through the magistrates' courts in October 1990 was 123 days, 1 day longer than in October 1989. There was a reduction of 3 days (to 36 days) from the date of offense to charge or summons; however, this was offset by an increase in the time for first listing to completion which increased by 44 days to 65 days. The average time from offense to completion of cases in 1990 as a whole increased by 4 days, compared with 1989, to 127 days. This was due primarily to a 3-day rise in the time from first listing to completion (to 64 days). The percentage of cases completed on first appearance remained at 22 percent during 1990, and the average length of adjournments remained at 2.5; however, the average length of adjournments rose to 26 days compared to 24 days the previous year. The average time from first listing to completion for defendants remanded in custody throughout proceedings remained below that for all cases, but increased by 1 day to 52 days in 1990. 10 tables, 6 figures and 8 notes