AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

DEFENDANTS FINALISED

In 2016–17, there were 5,385 defendants finalised in the Australian Capital Territory criminal courts, an increase of 805 defendants (18%) on the previous year. This was the largest percentage increase across the states and territories. (Tables 15 to 43)

The rate of defendants finalised was 1,524 per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over. (Table 55)


Defendants finalised in the Australian Capital Territory comprised less than one per cent of all defendants finalised nationally in 2016–17. (Table 2)

PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2016–17, the most common principal offences for defendants finalised in the Australian Capital Territory were:

• Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (53% or 2,835), which have increased by 20% (472) since 2015–16;
• Acts intended to cause injury (14% or 747) which have increased by 14% (89) since 2015–16; and
• Theft and related offences (5% or 275), which have increased by 9% (22) since 2015–16. (Table 43)

COURT LEVEL

Of the 5,385 defendants finalised in the Australian Capital Territory in 2016–17:

• 92% (4,979) were finalised in the Magistrates’ Courts;
• 4% (226) were finalised in the Higher Courts; and
• 3% (187) were finalised in the Children’s Courts. (Table 43)

METHOD OF FINALISATION

Of the 5,385 defendants finalised in the Australian Capital Territory in 2016–17:

• 65% (3,520) were proven guilty, the lowest proportion of any state or territory;
• 27% (1,452) had their matter(s) withdrawn by the prosecution;
• 4% (191) were acquitted; and
• 4% (209) had their matter(s) transferred to other court levels. (Tables 2 and 43)

Between 2015–16 and 2016–17, the number of defendants who had their matter(s) withdrawn by prosecution increased by 49% (480) following on from a 32% decrease (449) between 2014–15 and 2015–16. (Table 43)

The Australian Capital Territory had the highest proportion of defendants who had their matter(s) withdrawn by the prosecution across the states and territories (27% or 1,452). (Table 2)


PRINCIPAL SENTENCE

Of the 3,520 defendants who were proven guilty:

• 77% (2,717) were sentenced to a non-custodial order, mostly (60% or 1,620) monetary orders; and
• 23% (803) were sentenced to a custodial order, largely (62% or 500) custody in a correctional institution. (Table 8)

OTHER KEY POINTS

In 2016–17:

• The median age of defendants finalised was 31 years.
• Males accounted for 77% (4,173) of defendants finalised.
• The median sentence length for defendants sentenced to custody in a correctional institution (excluding those sentenced to life or indeterminate) was 6 months and for those sentenced to community service orders was 100 hours.
• The median amount given for a fine was $400. (Tables 2, 43, 57d, 58 and 59)