AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
FINALISED DEFENDANTS
The number of defendants finalised in the Australian Capital Territory decreased by 9% (568) from 6,023 defendants in 2013–14 to 5,455 defendants in 2014–15.
The Australian Capital Territory was one of the three states and territories that had a decrease in finalised defendants in 2014–15, along with Queensland and South Australia. Of these it had the largest percentage decrease. (Table 42)
SEX
In 2014–15, of all defendants finalised in the Australian Capital Territory:
- 75% (4,085) were male;
- 25% (1,337) were female; and
- Less than 1% (28) were organisations.
The Australian Capital Territory
had the highest proportion of female defendants of any state or territory. (Table 2)
COURT LEVEL
Of the 5,455 defendants finalised in the Australian Capital Territory:
- 93% (5,090) were finalised in the Magistrates' Courts;
- 3% (188) were finalised in the Children's Courts; and
- 3% (175) were finalised in the Higher Courts.
Compared with the previous year, the number of defendants finalised in the:
- Magistrates' Courts decreased by 9% (484);
- Children's Courts decreased by 12% (26); and
- Higher Courts decreased by 24% (54). (Table 42)
AGE
In 2014–15, the median age of defendants finalised in the Australian Capital Territory was 31 years.
Young defendants (aged 10–19 years) comprised 7% (374) of defendants finalised. This was the lowest proportion of young defendants in any state or territory. (Table 2)
PRINCIPAL OFFENCE
In 2014–15, the three most common principal offences for all finalised defendants were:
- Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (60% or 3,285), the highest proportion for any state or territory;
- Acts intended to cause injury (10% or 562); and
- Theft and related offences (6% or 324). (Table 2)
The greatest decrease in the number of defendants finalised in the Australian Capital Territory in 2014–15 occurred amongst those with a principal offence of:
- Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations (down 86% or 1,084); followed by
- Unlawful entry with intent/burglary, break and enter (down 27% or 38).
Defendants with a principal offence of Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences and Fraud, deception and related offences experienced the largest increases in 2014–15 (up 22% or 594 and 75% or 27 respectively). (Table 42)
METHOD OF FINALISATION
Of the 5,455 defendants finalised in the Australian Capital Territory in 2014–15:
- 65% (3,570) were proven guilty, the lowest proportion of any state or territory;
- 26% (1,421) had their charges withdrawn by the prosecution, the highest proportion of any state or territory;
- 5% (263) were transferred to another court level; and
- 3% (143) were acquitted. (Table 2)
DEFENDANTS PROVEN GUILTY
Of the 3,570 defendants proven guilty in 2014–15:
- 80% (2,844) pleaded guilty;
- 8% (297) were found guilty ex-parte; and
- 6% (204) were found guilty by the court. (Table 42)
PRINCIPAL SENTENCE
Of those defendants proven guilty:
- 79% (2,827) were sentenced to non-custodial orders; and
- 21% (739) were sentenced to custodial orders.
There were 411 defendants sentenced to custody in a correctional institution in the Australian Capital Territory in 2014–15. This represented 12% of all finalised defendants proven guilty. (Table 7)
The most common principal offences amongst these defendants, excluding life and indeterminate imprisonment, were:
- Acts intended to cause injury (21% or 86) with a median sentence length of 7 months; and
- Theft and related offences (19% or 77) with a median sentence length of 3 months. (Table 47d)
SENTENCE LENGTH
The median sentence length or fine amount for those who were found guilty and sentenced to:
- Custody in a correctional institution was 6 months; (Table 47d)
- A community service order was 100 hours; and (Table 48)
- A fine was $350. (Table 49)
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