DURATION OF CASES ADJUDICATED
The nature of the charges presented to the court for a defendant, along with the process required to deal with the charges (which is affected by the type of plea), impact on the time required for a court to finalise a case. The duration is calculated from the date of initiation to finalisation of the case (for more information about duration see paragraphs 39, 55, 57-58 of the Explanatory Notes and the Glossary).
In 2007-08 in the Magistrates' Courts, over half (56%) of all defendants adjudicated had charges finalised within 6 weeks of initiation. Duration of cases finalised within this time period have not changed markedly over time; 59% of adjudicated defendants were finalised in this time in 2003-04. Adjudicated defendants finalised at 52 weeks or longer comprised 4%; in 2003-04 this comprised 3% of adjudicated defendants.
In 2007-08, public order offences (78%), dangerous or negligent acts (65%) and illicit drug offences (62%) had the largest proportion of adjudicated defendants finalised within 6 weeks of initiation.
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