February 25, 2004 | Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST) | 31/2004 |
Women more likely to receive a non-custodial sentence
Over one-third of women proven guilty in the Higher Criminal Courts in 2002-03 received a non-custodial sentence, compared to almost one-quarter of men, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Of the 16,643 finalised Higher Criminal Court defendants in 2002-03, almost 90% were finalised by adjudication (proven guilty or acquitted). Of these adjudicated defendants:
- Nearly nine in ten (87%) defendants were men and half were men aged between 20-34 years;
- Men were more likely than women to have a principal offence of sexual assault and related offences (12% of men, compared to 1% of women);
- Women were more likely than men to have a principal offence of deception and related offences (19% of women, compared to 6% of men);
- Defendants finalised at trial (guilty verdict or acquitted) with a principal offence of homicide and related offences had an acquittal rate of 36%. The acquittal rate for those with a principal offence of sexual assault and related offences was 51%;
- Most defendants were proven guilty (93%). The proportion of defendants proven guilty was highest for unlawful entry with intent and dangerous or negligent acts endangering persons (both 98%);
- The proportion of defendants proven guilty for illicit drug offences, theft and related offences, and deception and related offences was 97% each; and
- Just over half of defendants proven guilty (55%) received custodial orders to be served (excluding fully suspended sentences). For both men and women, these were the main sentence types, although the proportion was higher for men (58%) than women (38%).
Further information is in Criminal Courts, Australia (cat. no. 4513.0)