CRIMINAL COURTS, 2013–14 - VICTORIA
TOTAL FINALISED DEFENDANTS
In 2013–14, the number of finalised defendants in Victoria was 104,935. Of these:
- 79,860 (76%) were male;
- 23,100 (22%) were female; and
- 1,974 (2%) were organisations. (Table 15)
Between 2012–13 and 2013–14, the number of finalised defendants increased by 6% (5,704 defendants):
- male defendants increased by 5% (3,473 defendants); and
- female defendants increased by 9% (1,969 defendants). (Table 15)
PRINCIPAL OFFENCE
In 2013-14, the three most common principal offences for all finalised defendants were:
- Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (40,250 defendants or 38%);
- Acts intended to cause injury (14,283 defendants or 14%); and
- Theft and related offences (8,903 defendants or 9%). (Table 15)
The greatest increases in the number of finalised defendants between 2012-13 and 2013-14 occurred in the following principal offences:
- Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (2,840 defendants or 8%);
- Acts intended to cause injury (1,430 defendants or 11%); and
- Illicit drug offences (549 defendants or 12%). (Table 15)
In terms of percentage change, the greatest increase occurred for Abduction, harassment and other offences against the person (19% or 218 defendants). (Table 15)
METHOD OF FINALISATION
Of the 104,935 defendants finalised in 2013–14:
- 91,953 (88%) were proven guilty;
- 11,374 (11%) had their charges withdrawn by the prosecution; and
- 1,086 (1%) were acquitted. (Table 15)
PRINCIPAL SENTENCE
Of the 91,953 defendants proven guilty in 2013-14:
- 9,950 (11%) were sentenced to a custodial order; and
- 81,997 (89%) were sentenced to a non-custodial order. (Table 15)
The median sentence length or fine amount for those who received a principal sentence of:
- custody in a correctional institution was 5 months;
- a community service order was 100 hours; and
- a fine was $500. (Tables 44, 45 and 46)
For defendants sentenced to custody in a correctional institution, excluding life and indeterminate imprisonment (5,535 defendants), the most common principal offences were:
- Acts intended to cause injury (1,229 or 22% defendants);
- Illicit drug offences (642 defendants or 12%); and
- Theft and related offences (597 defendants or 11%). (Table 44)
OTHER KEY POINTS
In 2013-14, Victoria had:
- the second lowest proportion of defendants finalised with Public order offences (3% or 3,035 defendants), while the Australian Capital Territory had the lowest (2% or 126 defendants); and (Table 2)
- the highest median fine for defendants proven guilty with a principal offence of Prohibited and regulated weapons and explosives offences ($750) and Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations ($710). (Table 46)
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