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 - QUEENSLAND

TOTAL FINALISED DEFENDANTS

In 2013–14, the number of finalised defendants in Queensland was 173,655. Of these:

  • 130,637 (75%) were male;
  • 41,383 (24%) were female; and
  • 654 (less than 1%) were organisations. (Table 19)
Between 2012–13 and 2013–14, the number of finalised defendants increased by 7% (11,438 defendants):
  • male defendants increased by 7% (7,977 defendants); and
  • female defendants increased by 8% (3,195 defendants). (Table 19)
INDIGENOUS STATUS

In 2013-14, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants made up 24% (24,384) of all finalised defendants in Queensland (excluding traffic offences and organisations). (Table 8)

The most common principal offence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants was Public order offences (32% or 7,781 defendants). (Table 9)

PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2013-14, the three most common principal offences for all finalised defendants were:
  • Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (59,377 defendants or 34%);
  • Public order offences (20,272 defendants or 12%); and
  • Illicit drug offences (20,120 defendants or 12%). (Table 19)
The greatest increases in the number of finalised defendants between 2012-13 and 2013-14 occurred in the following principal offences:
  • Illicit drug offences (3,891 defendants or 24%);
  • Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations ( 2,156 defendants or 15%); and
  • Public order offences (1,678 defendants or 9%). (Table 19)
In terms of percentage change, the greatest increase occurred for Miscellaneous offences (30% or 415 defendants). (Table 19)

METHOD OF FINALISATION

Of the 173,655 defendants finalised in 2013–14:
  • 157,501 (91%) were proven guilty;
  • 10,941 (6%) had their charges withdrawn by the prosecution; and
  • 3,836 (2%) were transferred to other court levels. (Table 19)
PRINCIPAL SENTENCE

Of the 157,501 defendants proven guilty in 2013-14:
  • 14,485 (9%) were sentenced to a custodial order; and
  • 143,018 (91%) were sentenced to a non-custodial order. (Table 19)
The median sentence length or fine amount for those who received a principal sentence of:
  • custody in a correctional institution was 9 months;
  • a community service order was 60 hours; and
  • a fine was $400. (Tables 44, 45 and 46)
For defendants sentenced to custody in a correctional institution, excluding life and indeterminate imprisonment (9,416 defendants), the most common principal offences were:
  • Acts intended to cause injury (1,763 defendants or 19% defendants);
  • Unlawful entry with intent/burglary, break and enter (1,286 or 14% defendants); and
  • Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations (1,168 defendants or 12% ). (Table 44)
OTHER KEY POINTS

In 2013-14, Queensland had:
  • the largest number of finalised defendants (173,655 defendants, accounting for 30% of all defendants finalised in Australia's criminal courts); (Table 2)
  • the largest increase in the number of finalised defendants compared with 2012-13 (up 11,438 defendants or 7%); (Table 19)
  • the highest proportion of defendants finalised with Illicit drug offences (12% or 20,120 defendants) and Public order offences (12% or 20,272 defendants); and (Table 2)
  • the second highest proportion of defendants proven guilty (91% or 157,501 defendants), while Western Australia had the highest (92% or 74,599 defendants). (Table 2)