NORTHERN TERRITORY

FINALISED DEFENDANTS

The number of defendants finalised in the Northern Territory increased by 3% (404) from 12,923 defendants in 2013–14 to 13,327 defendants in 2014–15. (Table 38)

The Northern Territory contributed 2% to the total number of defendants finalised nationally. (Table 2)

SEX

In 2014–15, of all defendants finalised in the Northern Territory:

• 78% (10,329) were male;
• 22% (2,974) were female; and
• Less than 1% (21) were organisations. (Table 2)

COURT LEVEL

Of the 13,327 defendants finalised in the Northern Territory:

• 89% (11,921) were finalised in the Magistrates' Courts;
• 7% (924) were finalised in the Children's Courts; and
• 4% (475) were finalised in the Higher Courts.

Compared with the previous year, the number of defendants finalised in the:

• Magistrates' Courts increased by 2% (212);
• Children's Courts increased by 5% (43); and
• Higher Courts increased by 43% (143). (Table 38)

AGE

The median age of defendants in the Northern Territory was 30 years, below the national median of 31 years.

Young defendants (aged 10–19 years) comprised 12% (1,603) of defendants finalised, representing the second highest proportion of all states and territories after Queensland (13%). (Table 2)

INDIGENOUS STATUS

In 2014–15, defendants who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander represented 77% (6,766) of all finalised defendants in the Northern Territory (excluding traffic offences and organisations).

The most common principal offence amongst both defendants who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous defendants was Acts intended to cause injury (43% or 2,878 and 27% or 476 respectively).

Of defendants proven guilty, 53% (2,995) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants received custody in a correctional institution as their principal sentence, compared with 30% (409) of non-Indigenous defendants. (Table 11)

PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2014–15, the three most common principal offences for all finalised defendants were:

• Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (30% or 4,043);
• Acts intended to cause injury (26% or 3,406); and
• Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations (10% or 1,350). (Table 2)

The greatest increase in the number of defendants finalised in the Northern Territory in 2014–15 occurred amongst those with a principal offence of:

• Illicit drug offences (33% or 193); followed by
• Unlawful entry with intent/burglary, break and enter (30% or 152).

Defendants with a principal offence of Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences and Miscellaneous offences experienced the largest decreases in 2014–15 (down 8% or 357 defendants and 30% or 37 defendants respectively). (Table 38)

METHOD OF FINALISATION

Of the 13,327 defendants finalised in the Northern Territory in 2014–15:

• 86% (11,517) were proven guilty;
• 8% (1,028) had their charges withdrawn by the prosecution;
• 3% (390) were acquitted; and
• 3% (381) were transferred to another court level. (Table 2)

DEFENDANTS PROVEN GUILTY

Of the 11,517 defendants proven guilty in 2014–15:

• 88% (10,104) pleaded guilty;
• 8% (931) were found guilty ex-parte; and
• 2% (200) were found guilty by the court. (Table 38)

PRINCIPAL SENTENCE

Of those defendants proven guilty:

• Two in five were sentenced to a custodial order (40% or 4,609); and
• Three in five were sentenced to a non-custodial order (60% or 6,911).

The Northern Territory sentenced 33% (3,812) of defendants proven guilty to custody in a correctional institution. This was the highest proportion of any state or territory, followed by the Australian Capital Territory (12%). (Table 7)

The most common principal offences amongst these defendants, excluding life and indeterminate imprisonment, were:

• Acts intended to cause injury (47% or 1,801), with a median sentence length of 4 months;
• Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations (14% or 538), with a median sentence length of less than 1 month; and
• Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (8% or 322), 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 3 months, the lowest of any state or territory; (Table 47d)
• A community service order was 56 hours; and (Table 48)
• A fine was $750, above the Australian median of $450. (Table 49)