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).
Almost one fifth (17%) of defendants adjudicated were finalised in less than 13 weeks from the date of initiation, while 42% were finalised in under 26 weeks from initiation. A quarter (25%) of defendants were finalised 52 weeks or more after initiation.
Of defendants that went to trial and were found guilty by the court, 59% were finalised 52 weeks or more after initiation. Of those acquitted, 41% were finalised in this same time period. For defendants who pleaded guilty in 2007-08, 20% were finalised in less than 13 weeks.
The length of time to finalise cases had increased between 2001-02 and 2007-08. In 2001-02 the proportion of defendants with cases finalised in less than 13 weeks was 33%, while the proportion of defendants with cases finalised in 52 weeks or more after initiation was 14%. The comparable figures for 2007-08 were 17% and 25% respectively.
DEFENDANTS ADJUDICATED, Duration of cases finalised, Selected years
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