4513.0 - Criminal Courts, Australia, 2010–11 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/02/2012   
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Contents >> Higher Courts >> DURATION OF CASES ADJUDICATED

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, impact on the time required for a court to finalise a case. Court resources and complexity of cases can also have an impact. The duration is calculated from the date of initiation to finalisation of the case (for more information about duration see paragraphs 61-62 of the Explanatory Notes and the Glossary).

Approximately one-sixth (16%) of defendants adjudicated were finalised in less than 13 weeks from the date of initiation, while 44% were finalised in under 26 weeks. Almost one-quarter (23%) of defendants were finalised 52 weeks or more after initiation (Table 2.10).

Of defendants that went to trial and were found guilty by the court, half (50%) were finalised 52 weeks or more after initiation. Of those acquitted, 40% were finalised in this same time period. For defendants who pleaded guilty in 2010-11, 19% were finalised in less than 13 weeks.

The length of time to finalise cases increased between 2001-02 and 2010-11. 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 2010-11 were 17% and 23% respectively.

DEFENDANTS ADJUDICATED, Duration of cases finalised
Graph: DEFENDANTS ADJUDICATED, Duration of cases finalised








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