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 - AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

TOTAL FINALISED DEFENDANTS

In 2013–14, the number of finalised defendants in the Australian Capital Territory was 6,023. Of these:

  • 4,534 (75%) were male;
  • 1,445 (24%) were female; and
  • 13 (less than 1%) were organisations. (Table 39)
Between 2012–13 and 2013–14, the number of finalised defendants increased by 26% (1,254 defendants):
  • male defendants increased by 21% (773 defendants); and
  • female defendants increased by 52% (495 defendants). (Table 39)
PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2013-14, the three most common principal offences for all finalised defendants were:
  • Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (2,691 defendants or 45%);
  • Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations (1,258 defendants or 21%); and
  • Acts intended to cause injury (583 defendants or 10%). (Table 39)
The greatest increases in the number of finalised defendants between 2012-13 and 2013-14 occurred in the following principal offences:
  • Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations (1,066 defendants or 555%) (also representing the greatest percentage increase);
  • Sexual assault and related offences (47 defendants or 61%); and
  • Public order offences (46 defendants or 58%). (Table 39)
METHOD OF FINALISATION

Of the 6,023 defendants finalised in 2013–14:
  • 4,008 (67%) were proven guilty;
  • 1,581 (26%) had their charges withdrawn by the prosecution; and
  • 209 (4%) were transferred to other court levels. (Table 39)
PRINCIPAL SENTENCE

Of the 4,008 defendants proven guilty in 2013-14:
  • 682 (17%) were sentenced to a custodial order; and
  • 3,324 (83%) were sentenced to a non-custodial order. (Table 39)
The median sentence length or fine amount for those who received a principal sentence of:
  • custody in a correctional institution was 6 months;
  • a community service order was 100 hours; and
  • a fine was $300. (Tables 44, 45 and 46)
For defendants sentenced to custody in a correctional institution, excluding life and indeterminate imprisonment (415 defendants), the most common principal offences were:
  • Theft and related offences and Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (77 defendants or 19% respectively); and
  • Acts intended to cause injury (73 defendants or 18%). (Table 44)
OTHER KEY POINTS

In 2013-14, the Australian Capital Territory had:
  • the largest percentage increase in number of finalised defendants compared to 2012-13 (up 26% or 1,254 defendants); (Table 39)
  • the highest proportion of defendants whose cases were withdrawn by the prosecution (26% or 1,581 defendants); (Table 2)
  • the highest proportion of defendants finalised for Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (45% or 2,691 defendants) and Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations (21% or 1,258 defendants); and (Table 2)
  • the lowest proportion of defendants finalised for Illicit drug offences (3% or 150 defendants) and Public order offences (2% or 126 defendants). (Table 2)