NSW Criminal Courts Statistics 2007

Release date: 2 September 2008

The 2007 NSW Criminal Courts Statistics Report released today by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics showed further increases in the percentage of convicted offenders receiving a prison sentence or (in the case of juveniles) a control order.

The proportion of persons given a prison sentence by a Local Court increased; from 6.8 % to 6.9% of all persons found guilty.

The proportion persons found guilty in the Higher Courts who were sentenced to imprisonment rose from 66.7% to 69.9%.

The proportion of persons given a control order by a Children's Court rose from 9.7% to 10.3% of all persons with a proven offence.

There was, however, a slight decrease in the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons given a prison sentence in the Local Courts; from 18.8% to 18.1% of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons found guilty.

The other main changes noted in the report were:

  • A significant increase in the proportion of cases committed to the Supreme Court for trial but finalised by guilty plea; from 31.6% to 46.2%
  • A decrease in the median delay from committal to outcome in the District Court for trial cases where the accused was in custody: from 207 to 188 days.


As in past years, the conviction rate remains high. Eighty-seven per cent of persons appearing in the Local Courts in 2007 either pleaded guilty or were found guilty. The corresponding figure for the Higher Criminal Courts was 83 per cent.

Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn, 0419-494-408, 02-9231-9190. For copies of the report go to: www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au

 

 


 

Last updated:

13 Jun 2024