4513.0 - Criminal Courts, Australia, 2013-14 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 05/03/2015   
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CRIMINAL COURTS, 2013–14 - NORTHERN TERRITORY

TOTAL FINALISED DEFENDANTS

In 2013–14, the number of finalised defendants in the Northern Territory was 12,923. Of these:

  • 10,078 (78%) were male;
  • 2,800 (22%) were female; and
  • 39 (less than 1%) were organisations. (Table 35)
Between 2012–13 and 2013–14, the number of finalised defendants decreased by 7% (1,018 defendants):
  • male defendants decreased by 8% (869 defendants); and
  • female defendants decreased by 4% (127 defendants). (Table 35)
INDIGENOUS STATUS

In 2013-14, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants made up 78% (6,234) of all finalised defendants in the Northern Territory (excluding traffic offences and organisations). (Table 8)

The most common principal offence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants was Acts intended to cause injury (46% or 2,847 defendants). (Table 9)

PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2013-14, the three most common principal offences for all finalised defendants were:
  • Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (4,400 defendants or 34%);
  • Acts intended to cause injury (3,296 defendants or 26%); and
  • Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations (1,216 defendants or 9%). (Table 35)
The greatest decreases in the number of finalised defendants between 2012-13 and 2013-14 occurred in the following principal offences:
  • Theft and related offences (256 defendants or 33%);
  • Illicit drug offences (188 defendants or 25%); and
  • Unlawful entry with intent/burglary, break and enter (186 defendants or 27%). (Table 35)
In terms of percentage change, the greatest decrease occurred for Fraud, deception and related offences (63% or 127 defendants). (Table 35)

METHOD OF FINALISATION

Of the 12,923 defendants finalised in 2013–14:
  • 11,278 (87%) were proven guilty;
  • 1,005 (8%) had their charges withdrawn by the prosecution; and
  • 362 (3%) were acquitted. (Table 35)
PRINCIPAL SENTENCE

Of the 11,278 defendants proven guilty in 2013-14:
  • 4,146 (37%) were sentenced to a custodial order; and
  • 7,136 (63%) were sentenced to a non-custodial order. (Table 35)
The median sentence length or fine amount for those who received a principal sentence of:
  • custody in a correctional institution was 3 months;
  • a community service order was 56 hours; and
  • a fine was $650. (Tables 44, 45 and 46)
For defendants sentenced to custody in a correctional institution, excluding life and indeterminate imprisonment (3,394 defendants), the most common principal offences were:
  • Acts intended to cause injury (1,702 defendants or 50%);
  • Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations (487 defendants or 14%); and
  • Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (319 defendants or 9%). (Table 44)
OTHER KEY POINTS

In 2013-14, the Northern Territory had:
  • the highest proportion of defendants finalised for Acts intended to cause injury (26% or 3,296 defendants); (Table 2)
  • the highest proportion of defendants sentenced to custody in a correctional institution (30% or 3,393 defendants); and (Table 2)
  • the highest proportion of defendants sentenced to custody in a correctional institution with a sentence length of less than 6 months (77% or 2,621 defendants). (Table 44)