FLOWS THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
The criminal justice system can be considered as a complex series of stages, each comprising one or more particular processes that together make up the justice system as a whole. The justice system can operate in both a sequential and consequential manner. Offenders and defendants generally move through the system in one direction, however alternative pathways for offenders through the system may be offered via diversionary programs.
The ABS national statistical collections sourced from police, criminal courts and corrective services administrative agencies provide a snapshot of victims and offenders flowing through the four main stages or processes of the criminal justice system. These stages include: 'Entry into the criminal justice system'; 'Investigation and charging'; 'Adjudication and sentencing' and 'Managing offenders' which are illustrated in the following diagram. A more detailed diagram of the flows through the criminal justice system can be found in the ABS National Criminal Justice Statistical Framework (cat. no. 4525.0).
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