KEY FINDINGS

INCREASE IN FINALISED DEFENDANTS

The number of finalised defendants increased in 2013-14 after decreasing the previous four years. (Table 1)

In 2013-14, there were 579,152 defendants finalised in Australia's criminal courts. This represented an increase of 3% (17,592 defendants) compared with 2012-13. (Table 1)


PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

Illicit drug offences

Between 2012-13 and 2013-14, the number of defendants finalised with a principal offence of Illicit drug offences increased by 15% or 6,442 defendants. This increase was driven by an increase in Possess and/or use illicit drugs (3,085 defendants or 12% compared with 2012-13). Numbers of defendants finalised for Illicit drug offences have been increasing since 2010-11. (Table 3)

Principal offence	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14
101 Import or export illicit drugs	368	380	458	464	546
102 Deal or traffic in illicit drugs	7 569	7 224	7 147	7 637	8 834
103 Manufacture or cultivate illicit drugs	6 008	6 113	5 909	5 521	6 076
104 Possess and/or use illicit drugs	22 842	21 487	22 630	25 324	28 409
109 Other illicit drug offences	4 296	4 110	4 459	5 470	6 995
10 Illicit drug offences(a)	41 087	39 309	40 593	44 412	50 854

(a) Includes ANZSOC Group 1000 Illicit drug offences, n.f.d.


Illicit drug offences accounted for 9% of the total number of finalised defendants in 2013-14, compared with 6% in 2009-10. (Table 3)

One in five (20%) or 10,209 defendants finalised for Illicit drug offences were aged between 20 and 24 years. (Table 5)

The median fine imposed for defendants proven guilty of Illicit drug offences was $400. This varied across states and territories, from a low of $330 in New South Wales to a high of $703 in South Australia. (Table 46)

Other principal offences

Between 2012-13 and 2013-14, increases in other offences included:

• Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations (3,713 defendants or 10%);
• Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (2,261 defendants or 1%); and
• Acts intended to cause injury (2,038 defendants or 3%). (Table 3)

Increases in Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations were driven by increases in Breach of violence and non-violence restraining orders (1,660 defendants or 12%). Numbers of finalised defendants with this offence have been increasing since 2009-10. (Table 3)

Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences remained the principal offence accounting for the greatest proportion of all finalised defendants (212,116 defendants or 37%). The next most common principal offence was Acts intended to cause injury (69,016 defendants or 12%). (Table 3)

COURT LEVEL

The Magistrates' Courts accounted for 92% (534,607) of all finalised defendants in 2013-14, while the Children's Courts and Higher Courts accounted for 5% (29,597 defendants) and 3% (14,941 defendants) respectively. (Table 1)

The number of defendants in the Children's Courts decreased by 1,958 defendants (6%) compared to 2012-13, and the number in the Higher Courts decreased by 159 defendants (1%) over the same period. The number of defendants in the Children's and Higher Courts has been decreasing over the last five years. (Table 1)