Criminal Courts, Australia methodology

Dates of initiation for the Magistrates’ and Children’s Courts are based on the date of first appearance rather than the date of registration, as the latter is not captured by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. As such, the median duration in New South Wales Magistrates’ and Children’s Courts may be lower than other states and territories. This issue does not impact the Higher Courts data.

From 2023–24, 'Fail to supply details of driver' is coded to ANZSOC 2023 Group 1521 Resist or hinder a government representative, whereas in prior years this was coded as a traffic offence (ANZSOC 2023 Division 13).

In January 2022, the New South Wales Police Force made it mandatory to ask all persons of interest and victims of crime if they identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, excluding incidents where a traffic, marine or transport infringement was issued. This had a positive effect on the quality of data on Indigenous status in this collection, reducing the level of unknowns. This should be taken into account when comparing statistics relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants in New South Wales over time.

From 2022–23, with the introduction of the new Sentence type classification, fully suspended sentences with supervision under Children’s Court and Commonwealth legislation are coded to Intensive custody in the community. In addition, under the new classification rules, some community orders including Good behaviour orders with conditions are coded to Moderate penalty in the community where appropriate.

Drink and drug driving reforms were implemented in New South Wales in May 2019 as part of the Road Safety Plan 2021. Drivers with first-time low-level drink driving and drug-presence offences can be dealt with through an infringement notice process instead of being processed through the courts, reducing the number of fines issued by the New South Wales courts.

Sentence reforms were introduced in New South Wales in September 2018. Intensive correction orders were changed, making supervision mandatory and allowing for a range of conditions to be imposed, including home detention and community service work. Suspended sentences were repealed, as were home detention and community service orders as individual sentences. Good behaviour bonds and non-conviction bonds were also repealed, replaced by community correction orders and conditional release orders. These changes contributed to noticeable increases in intensive penalty in the community and moderate penalty in the community, and noticeable decreases in fully suspended sentences, fines and orders of good behaviour.

The Table Offences Reform involved reclassifying some strictly indictable offences (matters that must be dealt with by the Higher Court) as 'Table offences' that can be dealt with in the local court. The first tranche implemented in November 2016 involved a subset of 'break and enter' offences. The second tranche was implemented in two phases: in April 2018 (a subset of theft offences) and July 2018 (a subset of robbery and illicit drug offences). Analysis of the impact of both tranches of Table Offences Reform show that reclassifying offences from strictly indictable to Table offences reduced the number of matters finalised in the District Court and court duration, and decreased the number of longer custodial sentences.

The Early Appropriate Guilty Plea reform was implemented in New South Wales in May 2018. This reform was employed to encourage defendants to plead guilty earlier in the process through the introduction of structured behavioural incentives. This increased the proportion of cases committed to the Higher Court where a guilty plea had been entered in the Local Court, and has reduced the overall duration of cases in the Higher Courts.

Improvements in offence coding by the Judicial Commission of New South Wales, such as the reclassification of knife offences in the Summary Offences Act 1988, affect data from 2015–16 onwards. These changes resulted in an increase in defendants with a principal offence in ANZSOC 2023 Division 10 Weapons and explosives, and corresponding decreases in Division 12 Public order, health and safety offences and Division 13 Traffic and vehicle offences.

In the Children’s Courts, community service can be ordered as part of a youth attendance order or youth supervision order. However, the community service component of these orders is recorded as a free text field in the data management system or directed by the department supervising the order, and is therefore not able to be extracted for inclusion in the Victorian Children’s Courts sentencing data. Therefore, counts of Community service in the Children’s Courts are understated, and Moderate penalty in the community is overstated. 

Also in the Children’s Courts, defendants with an outcome of ‘Guilty finding by court’ are understated due to difficulties in reporting. The method of finalisation for these defendants is coded as a 'Guilty outcome, not further defined'.

From 2022–23, following a review of coding to the new Sentence type classification, Youth Supervision Orders have been coded to Moderate penalty in the community instead of Intensive penalty in the community.

Prior to 2021–22, ancillary orders made with an adjournment order were incorrectly included as an ‘Other non-custodial sentence n.e.c’. Finalised defendant counts in these Courts were therefore overstated in previous years by around 1% in the Magistrates’ and 2-3% in the Children’s Courts.

The commencement of the Fines Reform Act in December 2017 saw a substantial change in legislation which governs how an infringement matter is commenced in the Magistrates’ Courts. This has resulted in a decrease in defendants finalised in the Magistrates’ Courts, particularly for traffic offences from 2017–18 onwards.

In January 2017, the Victorian Children’s Courts rolled out a state-wide Children’s Courts Youth Diversion service, following a 12-month pilot. The diversion program is targeted at young people who are charged with low level offences, have little or no criminal history, and who would otherwise have been sentenced to an outcome not requiring supervision. This contributed to a decrease in defendants finalised in the Children’s Courts during 2017–18, impacting age, duration and principal sentence data.

From 2016–17, offences against the Eastlink Project Act have been coded to ANZSOC 2023 Division 13 Traffic and vehicle offences. Prior to this, these offences were coded to ANZSOC 2023 group 1221 Trespass.

For all years prior to 2016–17, the number of defendants acquitted in the Victorian Magistrates’ and Children’s Courts are overstated, while those with a guilty outcome and sentenced to a nominal penalty are understated. This resulted from both outcome types being recorded as ‘dismissed’ on the Victorian Court link system and thereby coded to a method of finalisation of acquitted within the historical Criminal Courts data.

From September 2013, suspended sentences ceased to be a sentencing option in the County and Supreme Courts (Higher Courts) in Victoria, and in the Magistrates’ Courts in September 2014. This resulted in a decrease in these sentences from 2014–15 and increases in other principal sentence types.

In January 2012, changes to the Sentencing Act removed the Victorian Courts’ ability to impose the following sentences: community-based orders, intensive corrections orders, combined custody and treatment orders or home detention orders. These were replaced by a new community correction order (CCO) which can contain multiple conditions. In 2012–13, the order was originally mapped only to community service orders, but from 2013–14 more detailed sentence information was provided, which enabled the coding of this sentence according to the conditions. This resulted in an increase in defendants with a principal sentence of community service order, intensive penalty in the community, and moderate penalty in the community.

In May 2024, the Queensland Police Drug Diversion Program, which provides an alternative to prosecution, was expanded to include the minor possession of all types of drugs. The expansion of this program is likely to have contributed to the decrease in offenders with a principal offence in ANZSOC 2023 Division 09 Drug offences from 2023–24.

In Queensland data, it is not always possible to separately identify driving causing death from driving causing grievous bodily harm. In these instances, all such offences are coded to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 045 Driving causing serious injury. This group is therefore overstated, and group 0132 Driving causing death, is understated.

From 2023–24, offences relating to improper disposal of syringes are coded to ANZSOC 2023 Group 1231 Sanitation or disease offences, whereas in prior years they were coded to ANZSOC 2023 Division 9 Drug offences.

In February 2018, the Youth Justice (Transitional) Regulation commenced, with the age range for the youth justice system including 17 year old defendants, who had previously been included within the adult justice system. These changes resulted in defendants being transferred from the Magistrates’ to Children’s Court during 2017–18, and a subsequent increase in defendants finalised in the Children’s Courts during 2018–19.

From 2017–18, there was a reduction in the number of unpaid traffic infringements lodged with the Magistrates' Courts, as these were instead pursued through the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER).

In Queensland, a defendant can elect to have a summary offence transferred to the Higher Courts (with the consent of the court), where they have also been charged with an indictable offence in the same incident, so the matter(s) can be sentenced at the same time. For the 2017–18 release of this publication, these types of transfers were included in Queensland data for the first time, following improvements to administrative systems. This resulted in an increase in transfers from Magistrates’ Courts to Higher Courts for Queensland during 2017–18.

From 2024–25, refinement in the coding of sentences for youth defendants has resulted in an increase in defendants coded to juvenile detention and a decrease in other types of custody in correctional institution.

In 2022–23, the South Australian Courts Administration Authority introduced a new case management system. This is expected to have improved the consistency and quality of data recording, and reduced the number of duplicated defendant records by consolidating relating cases (such as where charges have been changed and re-laid) into one. This is likely to have affected the number of finalised defendants, particularly for the Higher Courts.

Further, the new system supported detailed coding to the new Sentence type classification, and Good behaviour orders with conditions have since been coded to Community service and/or Moderate penalty in the community, as appropriate. 

During the transition to the new system, South Australia also improved coding of 'Referred to Family Conference' in the Children's Court, with defendants coded to Transfer to a non-court agency instead of Transfer to other court levels. This resulted in an overstatement of Transfer to other court levels data prior to 2022–23. However, changes were made to improve national consistency in recording of diversions, with 'Referred to Family Conference' treated as a Conference or diversion program with a method of finalisation of Agreement of wrongdoing from 2023–24 onwards.

It was identified that the process for transferring SIQ (Standard Indigenous Question) indicators through the SA Police data management system to the court system was affected in instances where the information was manually entered as a new case instead of using the Police Case Number, causing SIQ answers to be understated. This affects all data for years up until 2020–21. 

Prior to 2020–21, defendants who had a guilty outcome, but received no sentence or a nominal sentence due to time already served on remand, were being coded as receiving a nominal penalty. To better reflect their experience and improve comparability, from 2020–21, these sentences have been coded as a type of custody in a correctional institution (with no sentence length available). Following the introduction of the new sentence classification in 2022–23, these sentences have been separately output as ‘No further penalty due to time spent in custody’.

From 2019–20, cases that are dismissed by the judiciary are coded as ‘Charge unproven n.e.c.’ where they were previously coded as ‘Withdrawn by prosecution’. This contributed to a decrease in cases reported as withdrawn and corresponding increase in cases reported in the broader category of ‘Acquittals’.

In November 2018, the SAPOL Shield data management system was introduced by South Australia Police. This led to some changes in data collection that may impact data movements.

In March 2018, the Summary Procedure (Indictable Offences) Amendment Act 2017 was enacted. This led to a number of changes which contributed to an increase in case duration and fewer cases heard in the Higher Courts.

From December 2016, the introduction of adult cautioning by South Australia Police reduced the number of court lodgements of minor criminal matters, including matters that would have been heard and determined by Special Justices, and those heard in the Early Resolution Court (which has ceased to operate). As a result, there were notable decreases in the number of defendants finalised for minor criminal matters (such as traffic and vehicle regulatory offences) and in associated duration information, in the 2017–18 data.

In 2016, the Statutes Amendment (Home Detention) Act, established home detention as an alternative to a sentence of custody in a correctional institution for selected offences heard by the Magistrates’ Court. This led to an increase in defendants sentenced to an intensive penalty in the community from 2016–17.

In February 2014, the Statutes Amendments (Fines Enforcement and Recovery) Act 2013 came into effect causing a decrease in the number of finalised defendants from 2014–15 onwards. The Act transferred responsibility for the collection and enforcement of fines from the Courts Administration Authority to the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit (managed by the South Australian Attorney-General’s Department). This resulted in decreases in defendants finalised, particularly those with a combination of guilty ex-parte finding, a principal offence of ANZSOC 2023 Division 13 Traffic and vehicle offences, and a principal sentence of a fine.

In 2013–14, changes were made to how sentence length was determined for partially and fully suspended sentences, to align with national standards. Prior to this, only the imprisonment portion was included for partially suspended sentences, and for fully suspended sentences the good behaviour bond component was supplied (which was often longer than the suspended jail term). These changes resulted in increased sentence lengths for partially suspended sentences, and decreases for fully suspended sentences in 2013–14.

The implementation of the new Sentence Type Classification in 2022–23 better reflects the nature and severity of the sentencing conditions imposed, which for Western Australia, resulted in an increase in defendants sentenced to Intensive penalty in the community, and associated decrease in Community service and Moderate penalty in the community. 

From 2012–13, all components of compound sentences have been provided to the ABS, making it possible to derive a more accurate principal sentence. This resulted in an increase in principal sentences of Community service orders and a decrease in Moderate penalty in the community. 

From 2013–14 onwards, date of initiation for the Magistrates' and Children's Courts is based on date of registration (as per national reporting standards). Previously, the date of first appearance was provided for the calculation of case duration.

In Tasmanian courts, 'discharged' can refer to either a method of finalisation (where the matter is discontinued) or a nominal penalty following a guilty outcome. Challenges with separating out these outcomes in the Supreme (Higher) Court data has resulted in the count of defendants with a guilty outcome and nominal penalty being overstated from 2021–22 to 2024–25. Discharged defendants in the Supreme Court should instead be coded as withdrawn by the prosecution, and therefore this method of finalisation is understated. As a result, selected data is not published for 2021–22 to 2024–25.

Under the current legislation governing the Magistrates’ Courts (the Justices Act 1959), there is no avenue for a charge to be ‘withdrawn by the prosecution’. The prosecution instead uses ‘Tendered no evidence’ which is subsequently dismissed and coded as ‘charge not proven n.e.c.’, (a type of ‘Acquitted’).

Tasmania police data is stored on multiple systems and Indigenous status is not consistently recorded, so coverage is inadequate for publication in ABS recorded crime statistics. However, of those defendants subsequently heard in Criminal Courts, a sufficient proportion had their Indigenous status recorded, and subsequently this data has been published from 2021–22 onwards. Consideration should be given to the proportion of defendants with an unknown Indigenous status in any subsequent analysis.

Prior to 2020–21, courts fees and levies were coded to monetary penalties. For national consistency, coding for these fees and levies was shifted to Nominal penalties. This resulted in an associated increase in Good behaviour orders as these co-occurring sentences became the principal sentence.

A review of finalisation methods in 2019–20 led to an increase in defendants finalised as ‘charges not proven n.e.c.’ (acquitted) where previously they were classified as ‘withdrawn’.

From 2019–20, offences of ‘Possess dangerous article in a public place’ are included in ANZSOC 2023 Division 10 Weapons and explosives offences, where they were previously coded to Division 04 Harm or endanger persons. 

Tasmanian Higher Courts sentence length and fine amount data became available in 2018–19. However, sentence length data for good behaviour bonds remain unavailable for the Higher Courts.

Prior to 2018–19, transfers from the Magistrates' Court to the Higher Courts were understated. A change to the collation of data from 2018–19 better reflects the output of the Magistrates Court and lodgements to the Supreme Court of Tasmania.

In December 2018, the Sentencing Act 1997, introduced new alternatives to suspended sentences such as Home Detention (included under ‘Intensive penalty in the community’) and community correction orders (included under ‘Community service / work’ or ‘Moderate penalty in the community’ depending on the conditions imposed).

In 2017–18, the Tasmanian Police Prosecutions undertook a clearing of their case backlog. This resulted in a large increase in the number of defendants who had matter(s) referred to (and finalised in) the Magistrates’ Courts over the period, leading to an increase in cases acquitted or withdrawn.

During 2014–15 and 2015–16, a number of archival cases were closed in the Magistrates’ Court system, with these defendants finalised as ‘charges not proven, not elsewhere classified’. This resulted in increases in the method of finalisation of acquitted, and duration data.

From March 2024, significant sentencing reform in the Northern Territory changed the penalties able to be issued. With the introduction of Community Corrections Orders and Intensive Community Correction orders, there has been an associated increase in defendants with a principal sentence of Moderate penalty in the community and Intensive penalty in the community respectively, and a decrease in Community service/work and Good behaviour orders.

During 2023–24, a new integrated case management system, ‘SerPro’, was introduced. While the transition represented a significant change for the justice sector, the Criminal Courts data appears to be largely comparable to previous years.

In August 2023, the Northern Territory raised the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 years, which reduced the number of very young defendants finalised in the Children’s Courts during the reference period. In October 2024, the minimum age was subsequently lowered back to 10 years.

In Northern Territory data it is not always possible to separately identify driving causing death from driving causing grievous bodily harm. In these instances, all such offences are coded to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 045 Driving causing serious injury. This group is therefore overstated, and group 0132 Driving causing death, is understated.

Unlike other states and territories, the date of initiation in Magistrates’ and Children’s Courts in the Northern Territory is based on the earliest of the date the case was filed, the date the case was created, or the date of first appearance. This affects the calculation of duration data.

In the Northern Territory, defendants with an outcome of ‘Guilty finding by court’ are understated in the Magistrates’ and Children’s courts, due to inconsistent capture of defendant plea during data entry.

From 2018–19, payment of court costs/levies are categorised as a sentence type of nominal penalty, rather than ‘other monetary orders, not elsewhere classified’ to align with national standards.

From March 2016, police in the Northern Territory issued on-the-spot fines for long-term unlicenced and unregistered drivers. These were offences previously dealt with by the courts. This resulted in a decrease in defendants with a principal offence in ANZSOC 2023 Division 13 Traffic and vehicle offences from 2016–17. 

In 2012, magistrates started to hear minor matters ex-parte (instead of issuing bench warrants) if the defendant did not appear for the court hearing. This resulted in an increase of guilty ex-parte finalisations from 2011–12.

In 2011–12 and 2012–13, a joint project was undertaken between the Northern Territory Department of the Attorney-General and Justice and police to clear up historic outstanding warrants and summons matters. This resulted in increases in the number of finalisations, duration, cases withdrawn by the prosecution, and defendants with unknown Indigenous status during these time periods.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Courts relies on data from third party prosecuting agencies (such as the National Capital Authority and the Australian National University) many of which do not require and/or allow for the recording of defendant sex or date of birth. These bodies are not managed by ACT Courts, and as a result, the ACT has a substantially higher proportion of defendants with an unknown sex compared to other states and territories.

From 2024–25, refinement in the coding of sentences for youth defendants has resulted in an increase in defendants coded to juvenile detention and a decrease in other types of custody in correctional institution.

In the ACT, data on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants is available from 2021–22. However, defendants who identified as non-Indigenous (from police data) were combined with defendants with unknown Indigenous status in Courts systems prior to 2024–25.

Following the payment of infringement notices, traffic-related offences have generally been dismissed by the Magistrates’ Court and counted by the ABS as ‘Acquitted’, which was responsible for noticeable levels from 2019–20. In 2023–24, changes to Road Transport Authority processes resulted in some of these traffic-related offences being withdrawn by the prosecution instead.

During 2021–22, there was a spike in defendants charged with ‘failure to vote’ (ANZSOC 2023 group 1523 Voting or electoral offences), following the general election in late 2020. The majority of these defendants did not have their Indigenous status recorded in the Criminal Courts data. Defendants with voting offences experienced a relatively high rate of acquittals, with many cases dismissed following payment of infringements.

In 2018–19, ACT Courts records were migrated to the Integrated Court Management System. This improved the ability to incorporate external data, reducing the number of duplicated defendant records and consolidating related cases into one. This is likely to have affected the number of finalised defendants.

From 2018–19, a review into the coding of court fees and levies resulted in a reduced number of defendants with a principal sentence of a ‘fine or other monetary order’ in line with the ABS coding requirements to exclude such fees.

In 2014–15, amendments were made to offence coding in order to improve comparability with the other states and territories. Most notably, driving offences that did not result in a fatality (previously coded to ANZSOC 2023 Group 0132 Driving causing death) were remapped, and are counted under ANZSOC 2023 Division 13 Traffic and vehicle offences.

The Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC), 2023 provides a uniform statistical framework for classifying criminal behaviour in the production and analysis of crime and justice statistics.

Method of finalisation refers to the way in which a defendant’s case(s) is completed (finalised) by the courts so that it ceases to be an item of work for that particular court level within the reference period.

This section presents the different types of method of finalisation in scope of the Criminal Courts, Australia publication, including the definitions for each of these.

This classification includes sentence codes, categories, and definitions for each sentence type included in the Criminal Courts, Australia collection.

A defendant who has self-identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin.

Acts that harass, threaten, or invade the privacy of an individual, excluding those offences that amount to assault, sexual assault or blackmail. The action may be face-to-face, by phone, online, written or by other methods. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 044 which includes the following Groups:

• Stalking (0441)
• Threatening behaviour (0442)
• Harassment or private nuisance (0443)
• Coercive control (0444).

A defendant's age is calculated at the date their matter(s) was finalised in the criminal court, not when the alleged offence occurred.

The age standardised defendant rate adjusts the crude rate to account for the differing age structures that exist between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous populations to enable better comparisons. For more information, refer to Data processing – 'Rate of defendants finalised'.

A method of finalisation whereby the defendant makes an acknowledgment or agreement of responsibility for a wrongdoing(s); or no denial of responsibility; or is believed to have committed an offence and has consented to a conference. May not result in a formal recording of guilt. This method of finalisation is only applicable for Children’s Courts.

Animal cruelty includes acts that cause harm to, or the death of, an animal, except for offences relating to the lawful hunting, poaching, fishing or capture of wildlife. Harm refers to acts that cause suffering or puts an animal’s life in danger. 

Intent to harm is not required, for example the harm may be through neglect, or training animals by use of excessive physical force. Animals include domestic pets, livestock, working animals, racing animals, and animals in a zoo or sanctuary. Harming or killing wildlife is excluded, except where kept as pets. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 163.

Arson is the act of intentionally or recklessly causing damage to or destruction of property through use of fire or explosives. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 111.

Assault involves the direct and immediate infliction of force, injury or violence upon a person or people, or the direct and immediate threat of force, injury, or violence where there is an apprehension that the threat could be enacted. This may include use of body parts, weapons, heat, light, electrical force, odorous gases, or other methods. Offences in this division do not have a sexual or acquisitive component. Assault offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 02 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Serious assault (021)
• Assault of a prescribed officer (022)
• Common assault (023).

Assaults of police officers and other public officers for whom specific legislation applies if they are assaulted while undertaking their role. This may include emergency workers, prison officers, juvenile justice officers, judicial officers, border security officers, members of the defence force, and others. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 022.

The attempted unlawful killing of another person, where there is either the intent to kill or to cause grievous bodily harm with the knowledge that it was probable that death or grievous bodily harm would occur. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 012.

The ANZSOC is a hierarchical classification developed by the ABS for use in the collection and publication of crime and justice statistics. It provides a classificatory framework for the comparison of statistics on offences across Australia and New Zealand. Within the classificatory structure of ANZSOC, divisions represent the broadest categories of offences. The subdivision and group levels provide increasingly detailed dissections of the broad categories. 

The ANZSOC 2023 edition is built on the same principles as the ANZSOC 2011, but has been updated to reflect the evolution of criminal offence legislation, language, and social change. The ANZSOC 2023 has also been informed by the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (v 1.0), published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Where possible, the structure of the classification and content of offence groups from the ANZSOC 2011 was retained in the ANZSOC 2023 to allow for continuity of time-series data.

A warrant signed by a judge or magistrate ordering a person to be arrested and brought back before the court. This process takes place when a defendant, who has at least one charge that has not been finalised in the court, absconds from criminal proceedings. Bench warrants are excluded from this publication as methods of initiation and/or finalisation.

Extortion is characterised by an unlawful demand with intent to gain a benefit such as money or property, or with intent to cause detriment to a person, and use of coercive measures to be carried out in the future if the demand is not met. Coercive measures include, but are not limited to, the threat of force or violence, misuse of authority, criminal prosecution, destruction of a person’s reputation or social standing, or destruction of a person’s property. The victim may be a person or organisation, and coercive measures may relate to the victim or other people.

Blackmail is one form of extortion, where the threat is to release harmful information or images. There are also other forms of extortion, for example where something is taken or held (such as data through ransomware, or highly valued personal property through theft), and money or other assets are demanded in exchange for its return.

These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 052.

An act or omission breaching the conditions of a violence or non-violence related restraining order. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 141 which includes the following Groups:

• Breach of restraining order – violence (1411)
• Breach of restraining order – non-violence (1412). 
   

An act or omission breaching the conditions of a restraining order that related to violence. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Group 1411.

The unlawful entry with the intent to commit a further offence, such as stealing or causing property damage. Entry may be forced or unforced. “Break and enter” offences are considered burglary whether or not theft or property damage occurs. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 06, which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Burglary of a dwelling (061)
• Burglary of a non-residential building (062)
• Other burglary offences (069).

One or more criminal charges, relating to one or more individuals (or organisations), which are heard together by the court as one unit of work.

An allegation laid before a court by the police, Director of Public Prosecutions, or other prosecuting agency that an individual (or organisation) has committed a criminal offence.

The production, possession, distribution, or display of child abuse material in written, photographic, film, video, digital, or another format. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 034.

Child procurement or grooming includes procuring, persuading, pressuring, or preparing a child for sexual activity, such as sexual acts and/or the production of child abuse material. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 033.

A lower court level which is presided over by a judge/magistrate and has the jurisdiction to hear cases and sentence criminal charges against persons (generally) aged less than 18 years at the time the offence occurred. May also determine some minor indictable offences and conduct committal proceedings in relation to young people who have been charged with major indictable offences.

Choking, strangulation, and suffocation offences which do not result in death are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Group 0211.

Common assault is an assault where there was no serious injury, no aggravating factors, and the offence did not involve any of the circumstances defined in Serious assault or Assault of a prescribed officer. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 023.

An order requiring a person to undertake a specified number of hours of unpaid work for the community. Should that person breach the order, they may be brought back to court and receive another penalty such as a fine, a suspended sentence or a custodial sentence.

Compound or complex sentences are those which contain a variety of conditions or components, such as a treatment order, probation order or community service work. The exact nature of these sentences depends upon the magistrate/judge handing down the sentence, who considers factors such as the offender’s criminal history and seriousness of their offence(s). This type of sentencing aims to assign the most appropriate sentence combination for an offender that takes into account rehabilitative and restitution purposes, as well as wider community expectations.

Concurrent sentences refer to sentences that commence at the same time, whereas cumulative sentences are served one after the other. Where a defendant is found guilty for more than one offence, either a concurrent or cumulative sentence may be imposed.

A youth, family, group, restorative justice or community conference, or similar diversion program. Conditions often include an apology, reparation, and/or behaviour management programs. Includes where the charges were subsequently dismissed or withdrawn after successful completion of diversion program/conference.

Represents the level (of court) in which a defendant's case(s) was finalised (refer to ‘Finalised defendant’). Court levels can be distinguished from one another based on the extent of their legal powers (refer to 'Jurisdiction’). For the purposes of this publication, Court level has been grouped into the following three categories:

• Higher Court (intermediate and Supreme Court)
• Magistrates' Court (Court of summary jurisdiction)
• Children's Court. 

Lower courts which are presided over by a magistrate and have the jurisdiction to hear and sentence matters relating to summary (i.e. less serious) offences, or conduct preliminary (committal) hearings for indictable offences. In some circumstances, this court level may also deal with less serious indictable offences known as 'minor indictable' or 'triable either way' offences. Includes Magistrates' Courts, local courts or Courts of Petty Sessions (depending on the state/territory), and Children’s Courts.

Crude defendant rates are a basic measure of prevalence within a population and are not adjusted to account for any differences in population. For more information, refer to Data processing – ‘Rate of defendants finalised’.

An order requiring a person to be detained within a facility built especially for the purpose of incarceration.

Any property damage or destruction that does not involve arson, such as graffiti and vandalism. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 112.

The latest date on which all charges laid against a defendant within the one case are regarded as formally completed, and the defendant ceases to be an active unit of work for that particular court level.

Represents the date in which a defendant’s case is initiated into the court, and can be either the date of committal or the date of registration (depending on the process of entry into that level of court). For defendants committed from a Magistrates' Court to a higher court, the date of committal is used for the date of initiation. For defendants who have any other method of initiation, including direct presentment to a higher court by ex-officio, the date of registration for that court level is used as the date of initiation. Where there are multiple dates of initiation for a defendant (i.e. for different charges) and these charges were all finalised at the same time, the earliest date of initiation is used to derive duration (i.e. length) of a defendant(s) case.

A person (or organisations) against whom one or more criminal charges have been laid which are heard together as one unit of work by the court.

The unlawful supply or purchase of an illicit drug or controlled substance of any quantity; or, the possession of a drug in a quantity for commercial use. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 092.

The unlawful supply, sale or transportation of prohibited or regulated weapons or explosives. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 102.

Refer to: 'Intermediate court'.

Drink and drug driving offences include where a person operating a vehicle (or supervising a learner driver) exceeds the prescribed limit for alcohol or another drug. These limits may vary by jurisdiction and demographic, for example with lower limits for drivers with probationary or provisional licences. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 131.

Driver licence offences relate to the ownership or use of a licence to drive a car, truck, bus, motorbike, boat or other vehicle. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 133.

Offences causing serious injury to another person or persons by recklessly or dangerously driving a vehicle. The word “drive” is used to refer to any circumstance where a person is responsible for controlling a vehicle. This includes cars, trucks, motorbikes, boats, or other vehicles that can cause serious injury. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 045.

The unlawful trafficking, distributing, dealing, manufacturing, or cultivating of prohibited, prescription, or restricted drugs. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 09 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• International drug trafficking (091)
• Distribute or deal drugs (092)
• Manufacture or cultivate illicit drugs (093)
• Unlawful possession or use of drugs (094)
• Other drug offences (099).

The time elapsed between the earliest date of initiation and the latest date of finalisation for a defendant whose case(s) has ceased to be an item of work for the particular court level.

Environmental offences include acts that cause harm or risk to the natural environment. This includes air, water, land, ecosystems, landscapes, flora, fauna, and other animals. Most but not all offences are regulatory offences. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 16 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Environmental pollution (161)
• Environmental management offences (162)
• Animal cruelty (163)
• Other environmental offences (169).

Environmental pollution is any act that results in the direct or indirect polluting of public property. This includes the air, water, land, and broader environment. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 161.

The Estimated Resident Population (ERP) is the official measure of the population of Australia. The ERP used in this publication is for persons aged 10 years and over. The calculations are taken at the mid-point for the relevant reference period.

The direct laying of charge(s) against a defendant directly in a higher criminal court, by the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Attorney-General.

A defendant who has been finalised, for at least one FDV offence during the reference period.

An offence identified as having occurred within a family and/or domestic context/relationship. For the purposes of this publication, FDV offences (based on ANZSOC 2023) include:

• Homicide (Division 01)
• Assault (Division 02), excluding Assault of a prescribed officer (Subdivision 022) from 2024–25
• Sexual offences (Division 03)
• Harm or endanger persons (Division 04), excluding Driving causing serious injury (Subdivision 045)
• Property damage (Division 11)
• Breach of restraining order – violence (Group 1411).

For more information, refer to 'Family and Domestic Violence statistics', including for differences in how FDV offences are defined and identified across states and territories.

A person or organisation for whom, all charges relating to the one case have been formally completed (within the reference period) so that they cease to be an item of work to be dealt with by the court.

A monetary penalty where the offender is required to pay a sum of money to the Crown.

The intentional use of deception or dishonesty to obtain a benefit or avoid a disbenefit. This may include a financial gain, personal benefit, or unlawfully gaining access to data, information, places, or opportunities. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 08 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Obtain benefit by deception (081)
• Deceptive business practices (082)
• Corruption (083)
• Unlawful access to information or systems (084)
• Other fraud and related offences (089).

An adult order of imprisonment which provides that all of the sentence not be served, subject to the person being of good behaviour.

A juvenile detention order which provides that all of the sentence not be served, subject to the person being of good behaviour.

A custodial order which provides that all of the sentence not be served, subject to the person being of good behaviour for the length of the sentence.

An obligation, with or without sureties, aimed at securing the performance of some act by the person bound by the undertaking.

A determination of guilt made by the court, in the absence of the defendant (that is, without appearing in court), based on the evidence presented in relation to a criminal charge(s). This practice is only applicable for less serious, summary offences.

An outcome of criminal proceedings whereby the court (i.e. Jury, Judge, Magistrate etc.) has determined that the defendant is guilty of a criminal charge(s). This can be a trial outcome where the court finds the charge proven, or a hearing outcome where the court finds the charge proven (and the case was not heard ex-parte).

Defendants who either pled guilty, were found guilty by the court or were found guilty ex-parte, and from 2023–24, defendants with an agreement of wrongdoing. Prior to 2019–20, the phrase used for these outcomes was 'proven guilty'. While the phrase has changed, the definition remains the same.

A guilty plea to a charge by the defendant (and the case was not heard ex-parte). This is not a trial outcome. 

Acts that threaten, harass, accidentally injure, or neglect a person, or which unlawfully deprive another person of their freedom of movement, such as abduction, kidnapping, trafficking, slavery, or unlawful imprisonment. There is no requirement that the acts are intended to cause harm. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 04, which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Human trafficking or slavery (041)
• Abduction or kidnapping (042)
• Deprivation of liberty or false imprisonment (043)
• Acts that threaten, harass, or control (044)
• Driving causing serious injury (045)
• Other acts that harm or endanger persons (049).

A court presided over by a judge which has the jurisdiction to trial and sentence indictable (i.e. more serious) criminal matters. Includes intermediate court (District or County Court) and the Supreme Court.

Homicide, for this statistical classification, covers unlawfully killing, attempting to kill, or conspiracy to kill another person. Legal definitions of homicide may exclude attempted and unintentional acts. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 01 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Murder (011)
• Attempted murder (012)
• Manslaughter or driving causing death (013).

An order requiring a person to be detained for all or part of a specified period of time within a facility built especially for the purpose of incarceration.

An order requiring a person to be detained for a specified period of time within a facility built especially for the purpose of incarceration.

An order requiring a person to be detained for part of the specified period of time, subject to the person being of good behaviour.

A serious criminal offence as defined by specific Commonwealth, state and territory legislation. Charges relating to indictable offences generally require a trial and/or sentence hearing in a higher court. Under some circumstances, a defendant can elect to have these charges dealt with in a court of summary jurisdiction.

A formal written accusation that charges a person with an offence that is to be tried in a higher court.

Whether a defendant has or has not self-identified as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Where the Indigenous status of the defendant is not able to be identified or recorded.

An order requiring a person to have restricted liberty and/or reporting arrangements for a specified period of time while living within the community.

Higher courts which are presided over by a judge and have legal powers that fall between those of the court of summary jurisdiction and a higher court, to trial and sentence matters relating to most indictable (i.e. serious) offences. Includes District Courts and County Courts (depending on the state/territory). Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory do not have an intermediate court and all indictable offences are heard in the Supreme Court.

The international import or export of illicit drugs, or unlawful international import or export of prescription drugs. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 091.

Offences relating to the international import or export of weapons or explosives, whether prohibited or regulated. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 101.

Intimate image offences include any offence involving the creation and/or distribution of an intimate image, video, or other media without consent. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 035.

'Judgement' is used in this release as an alternative term for 'adjudicated'. This is where a decision has been made by the court as to whether or not the defendant is guilty of the charge(s) against them. 

The legal power or authority which may be exercised by a particular court level within which, judgements or orders of the court can be enforced or executed. Each court level has its own defined jurisdictional limits and these vary across states and territories.

A person aged between 10 and 17 years.

An order requiring a person to be detained for all or part of a specified period of time within a facility built especially for the purpose of the detention of juveniles.

An order requiring a person to be detained in a juvenile facility for all of the specified period of time.

An order requiring a person to be detained in a juvenile facility for part of the specified period of time subject to the person being of good behaviour.

Life and indeterminate sentences are the most serious forms of imprisonment. Life imprisonment can result in the defendant being imprisoned for the term of their natural life, or they may have a minimum time to serve specified by the court or administrative body (e.g. a Parole Board). Indeterminate sentences do not have a prescribed minimum term to serve, and the actual term may be subject to a ministerial or other administrative decision.

Refer to: 'Court of summary jurisdiction'.

A lower court presided over by a magistrate which has the jurisdiction to hear and sentence summary (i.e. less serious) offences and to conduct preliminary (committal) hearings for indictable offences. In some circumstances, this court level may also deal with less serious indictable offences known as 'minor indictable' or 'triable either way' offences. Includes the Local Court and Court of Petty Sessions (depending on the state/territory). Refer to ‘Court of summary jurisdiction’ for further information.

The unlawful killing of another person while deprived of the power of self-control by provocation, or under circumstances amounting to diminished responsibility, or without intent to kill. Death may occur from a careless, reckless, negligent, unlawful or dangerous act, including while driving. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 013.

Acts resulting or intended to result in the manufacture of an illegal or prescribed drug. Cultivation includes the act of sowing, planting, growing, tending, nurturing, or harvesting a narcotic plant. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 093.

The unlawful manufacture or modification of weapons or explosives. Manufacture may be by any method, including 3D printing. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 103.

The sum of the value of each observation in a data set divided by the number of observations. This is also known as the arithmetic average.

The middle value in a distribution when these values are arranged in ascending or descending order.

Refers to the way in which a criminal charge(s) for a defendant has been completed (finalised) by the court, so that it ceases to be an item of work for that particular court level. The Method of finalisation classification presents a full list of the categories/methods of finalisation in scope of this publication, including definitions for each of these.

Offences involving the breach of statutory rules or regulations, governing activities that are prima facie legal where such offences are not explicitly dealt with under any other ANZSOC 2023 Division. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 17 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Miscellaneous commercial offences (171)
• Local offences (172)
• Other miscellaneous offences (179).

Specified restrictions of activities and/or requirements to undertake specified activities while living in the community. Failure to meet the restrictions and requirements may result in further penalties.

A sentence order that requires the offender to pay a sum of money, usually in the form of a fine or as recompense to victims.

The taking of another person’s motor vehicle illegally and without permission, either temporarily or permanently. It also includes theft of vehicle parts or contents. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 071.

Unlawfully killing another person where there is one or more of the following: intent to kill, occurring in the course of committing a crime (whether there was intent to kill or not), or intent to cause grievous bodily harm with reckless indifference to life. This offence is classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 011.

The National Offence Index (NOI) provides an ordinal ranking of the offence categories in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC) according to perceived seriousness, to determine a defendant’s principal offence. The National Offence Index, 2024 associated with the ANZSOC 2023 is available from the ABS website.

Not elsewhere classified

Not further defined

The immediate release of a defendant for the reason that the period of detention during judicial proceedings is equal to or greater than the length of custodial sentence that the defendant would have otherwise received. This sentence type applies only to South Australia.

Various penalties not described elsewhere in the sentence classification. Includes nominal penalty, licence disqualification, forfeiture of property, and conference or diversion program.

Release of a defendant without an order following sentence that may or may not have conditions attached. Includes Rising of the Court and where an offence is proven but discharged/dismissed. Also includes cautions and instances where the defendant’s only penalty is court costs or levies.

A defendant who does not identify as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin.

Any act or omission by a person (or persons), for which a penalty could be imposed by the Australian legal system.

Offences that negatively impact the effective undertaking of government operations, including the delivery of government services and protection of national security. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 15 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Offences against national security (151)
• Offences against government services (152).

Acts that interfere with, cause harm to, or otherwise negatively impact government services or structures, other than relating to government security. This includes offences against any level of government, and government statutory agencies or agencies that operate under government regulation. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 152.

Offences that inhibit, hinder, interfere with, or harm justice processes such as subverting the course of justice, or resisting or hindering a police officer or justice official. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 142.

Offences against justice orders and procedures are acts or omissions that inhibit, hinder, or harm the administration of justice. This includes acts or omissions occurring during justice processes, or as breaches of court-ordered sentencing. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 14 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Breach of restraining order (141)
• Offences against justice procedures (142)
• Escape custody (143)
• Breach of sentencing orders (144)
• Offences against other justice orders and regulations (145).

Several offence Groups within this Division are not in scope of the Criminal Courts collection. Refer to 'Data collection'.

Acts or omissions that threaten or diminish the effective enforcement of government operations concerned with the preservation of national security. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 151.

Offences against other justice orders that are not elsewhere classified, such as prison regulation offences. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 145. Breach of bail and breach of parole offences would be classified to this Subdivision, but these offences are not in scope of the Criminal Courts collection. Refer to 'Data collection'.

Refers to the power of a court to hear criminal charges against a defendant for the first time (as opposed to on appeal) and determine whether or not a defendant has a guilty outcome.

Any offence that causes harm or endangerment and is not elsewhere classified, such as; drug or poison a person; neglect or ill-treatment of person under care; failure to report child abuse; and reckless endangerment. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 049.

Other drug offences not elsewhere classified in ANZSOC 2023 Division 09, including: permitting premises to be unlawfully used to sell drugs; and unlawfully displaying drug paraphernalia for sale. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 099.

Other sexual offences not elsewhere classified in ANZSOC 2023 Division 03, including: offensive sexual acts such as indecent exposure, and other sexual offences such as peeping. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 039.

The theft of money, goods, vehicles other than a motor vehicle, or services not elsewhere classified. This includes: public transport fare evasion; theft of other vehicles such as bicycles; and other theft or evasion of payment. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 079.

Other traffic and vehicle-related offences not elsewhere classified, such as unsafe operation of a boat or ship, parking offences, and pedestrian offences. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 139.

A defendant sentenced to imprisonment with a partially suspended term must be detained in prison for part of the specified term of the sentence, with the remainder of the term suspended on the condition that the defendant will be of good behaviour (and can also include other conditions such as attendance at rehabilitation or education programs). 

A mathematical technique applied to make small, random adjustments in data to ensure confidentiality and avoid the release of identifiable information. The result of perturbation is that a given published cell value will be consistent across all tables, but the sum of the components of a total will not necessarily be the same as the published total, in some tables. As such, proportions may add to more or less than 100%. Users are advised against conducting analyses and drawing conclusions based on small values, as these are proportionately more affected than large values.

A formal statement made by, or on behalf of, the defendant in response to a criminal charge that has been laid before a court, indicating whether or not the defendant intends to contest that charge.

The ‘most serious’ FDV offence (based on ANZSOC 2023) for a FDV defendant. The principal FDV offence is based on how the defendant’s offences were finalised, the most serious sentence type with the largest sentence length or fine amount, and the hierarchy of the National Offence Index (NOI), 2024. For more information, refer to 'Family and Domestic Violence statistics'.

The ‘most serious’ offence (based on ANZSOC 2023) for a defendant. The principal offence is based on how the defendant’s offences were finalised, the most serious sentence type with the largest sentence length or fine amount, and the hierarchy of the National Offence Index (NOI), 2024. For more information, refer to 'Data processing'.

The main (or most serious) sentence dealt to a defendant who has a guilty outcome, based on the hierarchy of the Sentence type classification. This classification presents a full list of categories/types of sentences in scope of this publication, including definitions for each of these.

The intentional or reckless destruction, damage, or defacement of property. The property may be owned by a person, organisation, or group. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 11 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Arson (111)
• Damage or destroy property (112).

The legal representatives of the Crown who bring a case against a defendant (for example, police, the Department of Public Prosecutions, or other statutory body).

Public health regulatory offences comprise offences against regulations intended to protect or improve the health or safety of the community. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 123 which includes the following Groups:

• Sanitation or disease offences (1231)
• Alcohol offences (1232)
• Tobacco, nicotine, or related offences (1233)
• Hazardous substances offences (1234)
• Pharmaceutical offences (1235)
• Betting or gambling offences (1236)
• Public health regulatory offences, n.e.c. (1239). 

Public order and safety offences relate to acts that create or increase a risk to community health and safety, or are considered disruptive or offensive. In most cases, these offences do not involve a specific victim, but some offences (such as offensive language or behaviour) may be directed towards one or more victims. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 12 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Public safety offences (121)
• Disruptive conduct (122)
• Public health regulatory offences (123)
• Other public order, health, and safety offences (129).

Rates of defendants finalised are expressed as the number of defendants per 100,000 of the relevant Estimated Resident Population (ERP). For more information, refer to 'Data processing'. 

A way of concisely showing the relationship of one quantity relative to another.

Offence of knowingly receiving, managing, or possessing money or goods taken or obtained illegally. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 074.

A defendant who has a guilty outcome of a criminal charge(s) is sentenced to remain in custody until the final adjournment of the court for the term, usually only momentarily.

The intentional unlawful taking of property from the owner, carer, controller, or custodian of that property with the use and/or threat of immediate force or violence. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 051.

Acts intended to unlawfully gain money, property, or other items of value from another person by using the threat of force or any other coercive measure. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 05 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Robbery (051)
• Blackmail or other extortion (052).

A penalty or order imposed by a court upon a defendant who has a guilty outcome for a criminal offence. The Sentence type classification presents a full list of categories/sentence types in scope of this publication, including definitions for each of these.

The intentional, direct, and immediate infliction of force, injury, or violence upon a person or people, either causing significant injury or in the context of aggravating factors. This includes choking and strangulation, and other serious assaults. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 021.

Sexual assault of a child includes any sexual penetration, touching, or other sexual contact. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 032.

Sexual assault involves physical contact of a sexual nature directed toward another person where that person does not give consent, gives consent as a result of intimidation or deception, or where consent cannot legally be given. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 031.

Sexual offences are acts, or intent of acts, of a sexual nature against another person which are non-consensual or where consent cannot be given. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 03 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Sexual assault of an adult (031)
• Sexual assault of a child (032)
• Child procurement or grooming (033)
• Child abuse material offences (034)
• Intimate image offences (035)
• Other sexual offences (039).

Courts available in some states and territories that provide support and/or offer access to programs and support services for defendants with particular characteristics (for example, Drug courts). The aim of specialist courts is to reduce rates of defendants returning to the justice system. Specialist courts are excluded from this collection.

A criminal offence which is regarded as less serious relative to an indictable offence, as defined by specific Commonwealth, state or territory legislation. Charges relating to summary offences are generally dealt with by a court of summary jurisdiction. However, in some states and territories, a defendant with summary charges may be transferred to a higher court for sentencing (e.g. if the magistrate wants to impose a penalty which exceeds their jurisdictional powers or if they have other indictable offences in the same case that are to be transferred (refer to: 'Indictable offence')).

A higher court presided over by a judge, which deals with the most serious criminal charges and has jurisdiction to trial and sentence matters relating to all indictable offences. In states and territories that have an intermediate court, the Supreme Court is usually reserved to deal with the most serious indictable offences, such as murder.

The unlawful taking or obtaining of money or goods, not involving the use of force, threat of force or violence, coercion, or fraud, to deprive the owner or possessor of the use of the money or goods, or the receiving or handling of money or goods obtained unlawfully. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 07 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Motor vehicle theft and related offences (071)
• Theft from a person (082)
• Theft from retail premises (073)
• Receive or handle proceeds of crime (074)
• Other theft (079).

Theft from a person includes the taking of property, money, or personal goods, from the immediate possession or control of a person without the use of intentional force, threat, or violence towards the victim. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 072.

Theft from retail premises includes theft of goods for sale, other than vehicles, by avoiding payment for those goods. Includes shoplifting and fuel drive-offs. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 073. 

Traffic and vehicle offences include offences relating to the licensing, registration, roadworthiness, or use of vehicles. It also includes pedestrian offences. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 13 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• Drink or drug driving (131)
• Unsafe operation of a road vehicle (132)
• Driver licence offences (133)
• Vehicle registration and standards offences (134)
• Transport regulation offences (135)
• Other traffic and vehicle offences (139).

The examination of (and decision on) a matter of law or fact by a court where a defendant enters a not guilty plea or other defended plea. Trials are usually conducted before a judge and jury, whereby the judge rules on questions of law and the jury is responsible for determining whether or not the defendant is guilty (although some states and territories also allow for a trial before a judge only). Defendants can be committed to trial via a committal proceeding, or an ex-officio indictment.

Offences relating to the unlawful possession or use of a non-commercial quantity of a drug. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 094.

Offences relating to purchase, possession, or use of prohibited or regulated weapons. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 104.

Unsafe operation of a road vehicle includes breaches of regulations designed to protect the driver of a vehicle, the passengers, and others in the vicinity. Road vehicles include cars, trucks, vans, motorbikes, bicycles, or other vehicles designed to be used on a road. It also includes horses where driver safety regulations extend to horse-riding on public land. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 132 which includes the following Groups:

• Exceed speed limit (1321)
• Drive while using a device (1322)
• Fail to use road vehicle safety equipment (1323)
• Reckless driving not causing serious injury (1324)
• Unsafe operation of a road vehicle, n.e.c. (1329).

Vehicle registration and standards include the registration of vehicles and their roadworthiness, seaworthiness, and other relevant safety standards, and relate to the vehicle itself rather than the actions of the driver. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Subdivision 134.

Offences involving prohibited or regulated weapons and explosives. These offences are classified to ANZSOC 2023 Division 10 which includes the following Subdivisions:

• International trafficking of weapons or explosives (101)
• Distribute or deal weapons or explosives (102)
• Manufacture weapons or explosives (103)
• Unlawfully obtain, possess, or use weapons or explosives (104)
• Other weapons and explosives offences (109).

A defendant aged between 10 and 17 years of age at the time their matter(s) was finalised in the criminal court.