Criminal Courts, Australia

In 2024–25, there was a total of 521,632 defendants finalised across all Criminal Courts in Australia, an increase of 1% (6,172) from the previous year. Of these defendants:

• The median age was 35.4 years, reflecting a slow but steady increase since 2010–11 when the median age was 29.0 years
• Three-quarters (75% or 391,115) were male, with the proportion greater in the Higher Courts (87% or 14,116)
• Youth defendants aged 10 to 17 years accounted for 4% (22,801)
• The median case duration was 9 weeks, with most judgements resulting in a guilty outcome (97% or 451,045).

In 2024–25, the five most common principal offences were:

• Traffic and vehicle offences – 38% or 200,146 defendants
• Assault – 14% or 75,576 defendants
• Offences against justice procedures and orders (such as breach of violence restraining orders) – 10% or 51,361 defendants
• Theft – 8% or 42,321 defendants
• Drug offences – 6% or 31,383 defendants.

Between 2023–24 and 2024–25, the number of defendants increased, with the greatest increases recorded for defendants with:

• Traffic and vehicle offences, up 9,421 (5%)
• Assault, up 2,759 (4%)
• Harm or endanger persons, up 1,543 (8%).

This was offset by decreases in the number of defendants with:

• Drug offences, down 5,335 (15%)
• Public order, health, and safety offences, down 1,989 (9%).

Drug offences decreased to 31,383 defendants, the lowest number in 15 years. 

Unlawful possession or use accounted for 70% of drug offences in 2024–25, and declined 17% from the previous year.

Of the defendants whose charges resulted in a court judgement in 2024–25, most (97% or 451,045) had a guilty outcome. Of these defendants:

• Over half (52% or 235,149) received a fine as their principal sentence, with a median amount of $500
• 11% (47,592) were sentenced to custody in a correctional institution, with a median sentence length of 8 months
• One in ten (10% or 46,972) were sentenced to good behaviour, with a median sentence length of 12 months.

For defendants with a drug offence, most had a guilty outcome (99% or 28,760). Of these defendants:

• Just over half (56% or 16,039) received a fine as their principal sentence, with a median amount of $400
• 12% (3,337) were sentenced to nominal and other penalties (such as forfeiture of property or a conference or diversion program)
• 11% (3,151) were sentenced to custody in a correctional institution, with a median sentence length of 22 months.

From 2023–24 to 2024–25, the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants increased for the following states and territories:

• New South Wales, up 2,110 to 25,815 defendants
• Northern Territory, up 1,806 to 7,935 defendants
• South Australia, up 1,093 to 6,443 defendants
• Tasmania, up 186 to 1,573 defendants
• Australian Capital Territory, up 15 to 347 defendants.

A decrease was recorded in Queensland, down 2,112 to 21,522 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants.

There were more male Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants than female (at least 69% were male across each of the selected states and territories for which Indigenous status was available).

For offences where Indigenous status data were available, assault accounted for the largest number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants in:

• New South Wales – 7,415 defendants
• Northern Territory – 3,913 defendants
• South Australia – 2,177 defendants
• Tasmania – 447 defendants
• Australian Capital Territory – 129 defendants.

For Queensland, the principal offence with the largest number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants was offences against justice procedures and orders (5,017 defendants).

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants who received a court judgement, guilty outcomes were recorded for:

• New South Wales – 20,993 defendants
• Queensland – 18,984 defendants
• Northern Territory – 6,780 defendants
• South Australia – 4,580 defendants
• Tasmania – 1,230 defendants
• Australian Capital Territory – 224 defendants.

For these defendants, their principal sentences were:

• Custody in a correctional institution in the Northern Territory (4,512 defendants), South Australia (1,909) and the Australian Capital Territory (82)
• A fine in Queensland (5,386) and Tasmania (294)
• Moderate penalty in the community in New South Wales (5,273).

There were 22,801 youth defendants aged 10 to 17 years finalised in all Criminal Courts in 2024–25, representing a decrease of 3% (618) from the previous year. These youth defendants:

• Accounted for 4% of total defendants nationally
• Had a median age of 16.3 years.

In 2024–25, almost three-quarters of youth defendants (74% or 16,780) were male. Since 2010–11, the number of male youth defendants has decreased by 40%, while the number of female youth defendants has decreased by 23%.

In 2024–25, the most common principal offences for youth defendants were:

• Assault – 23% or 5,329 youth defendants
• Theft – 20% or 4,501 youth defendants
• Burglary – 14% or 3,096 youth defendants.

Between 2023–24 and 2024–25, the number of youth defendants in court for drug offences decreased by 22% (118 defendants), and for burglary by 16% (611 defendants). 

Over the same period, the number of youth defendants in court for traffic and vehicle offences increased by 8% (175 defendants).

For youth defendants with a court judgement, most (93% or 17,212) had a guilty outcome, including where this was an ‘agreement of wrongdoing’ rather than a legal finding of guilt. Of these defendants:

• 24% (4,155) received a nominal penalty, such as a caution, discharge or dismissal, or where court fees were the only costs imposed
• 22% (3,756) were required to attend a conference or diversion program
• 19% (3,268) were sentenced to a moderate penalty in the community, with conditions such as low intensity supervision and treatment programs
• 16% (2,669) were sentenced to good behaviour, with a median sentence length of 6 months
• 5% (903) were sentenced to juvenile detention or other custody in a correctional institution, with a median sentence length of 6 months.

In 2024–25, a conference or diversion program was the principal sentence for 3,756 youth defendants. Conference or diversion programs were more common among those with a guilty outcome for:

• Theft – 28% or 1,049 youth defendants
• Assault – 25% or 949 youth defendants.

A conference or diversion program was the principal sentence for 36% (83) of very young defendants aged 10 to 12 years old, compared with 19% (1,942) of youth defendants aged 16 years or older.

Among guilty youth defendants, females (25%) were slightly more likely than males (21%) to have a principal sentence of a conference or diversion program.

In 2024–25, there were 106,602 defendants nationally with at least one FDV-related offence. Of these defendants:

• Four in five were male (80% or 85,302 defendants)
• The median age of defendants was 36.1 years
• Most of those receiving a court judgement had a guilty outcome (94% or 80,738)
• Courts sentenced 18,282 FDV defendants (23% of those guilty) to custody in a correctional institution.

In 2024–25, the most common principal offences for FDV defendants were:

• Assault – 41% or 43,863 defendants
• Breach of violence restraining order – 39% or 41,578 defendants
• Harm or endanger persons (which include acts that threaten, harass, or control) – 11% or 11,701 defendants
• Property damage – 7% or 7,047 defendants.

Of the 86,229 FDV defendants receiving a court judgement, most (94% or 80,738) had a guilty outcome. For these defendants:

• A fine was the most common principal sentence (24% or 19,422)
• 23% (18,282) were sentenced to custody in a correctional institution
• 19% (15,061) were sentenced to a moderate penalty in the community
• 16% (12,941) were sentenced to good behaviour.

There were 40,626 defendants with at least one FDV offence in New South Wales courts in 2024–25. The most common principal offence was assault (48% or 19,538 defendants), and just over three-quarters of FDV defendants were male (76% or 30,860).

The majority of defendants who received a court judgement had a guilty outcome (88% or 28,861). Of these guilty defendants:

• 32% (9,095) were sentenced to a moderate penalty in the community
• 24% (6,830) were sentenced to good behaviour
• 15% (4,379) were sentenced to custody in a correctional institution.

There were 17,183 defendants with at least one FDV offence in Victorian courts in 2024–25. The most common principal offence was assault (40% or 6,820 defendants), and the majority of FDV defendants were male (82% or 14,053).

Almost all defendants who received a court judgement had a guilty outcome (99% or 12,862). Of these guilty defendants:

• 31% (3,987) were sentenced to good behaviour
• 24% (3,057) received a fine
• 20% (2,518) received nominal and other penalties (such as forfeiture of property or a conference or diversion program).

There were 23,000 defendants with at least one FDV offence in Queensland courts in 2024–25. The most common principal offence was a breach of violence restraining order (71% or 16,263 defendants), and the majority of FDV defendants were male (84% or 19,212).

Almost all defendants who received a court judgement had a guilty outcome (99% or 20,449). Of these guilty defendants:

• 31% (6,290) were sentenced to custody in a correctional institution
• 28% (5,812) received a fine
• 16% (3,357) were sentenced to a moderate penalty in the community.

There were 5,150 defendants with at least one FDV offence in South Australian courts in 2024–25. The most common principal offence was assault (65% or 3,344 defendants), and the majority of FDV defendants were male (86% or 4,415).

Almost all defendants who received a court judgement had a guilty outcome (97% or 2,054). Of these guilty defendants:

• 50% (1,026) were sentenced to custody in a correctional institution
• 19% (394) were sentenced to good behaviour
• 8% (156) received a fully suspended sentence of imprisonment.

There were 12,464 defendants with at least one FDV offence in Western Australian courts in 2024–25. The most common principal offence was a breach of violence restraining order (45% or 5,607 defendants), and the majority of FDV defendants were male (81% or 10,071).

The majority of defendants who received a court judgement had a guilty outcome (95% or 9,784). Of these guilty defendants:

• 58% (5,652) received a fine
• 13% (1,225) were sentenced to a moderate penalty in the community
• 11% (1,081) were sentenced to custody in a correctional institution.

There were 1,871 defendants with at least one FDV offence in Tasmanian courts in 2024–25. The most common principal offence was a breach of violence restraining order (46% or 859 defendants), and the majority of FDV defendants were male (83% or 1,559).

The majority of defendants who received a court judgement had a guilty outcome (82% or 1,514). Of these guilty defendants:

• 26% (392) received a fine
• 26% (391) were sentenced to custody in a correctional institution
• 19% (288) were sentenced to good behaviour.

There were 5,461 defendants with at least one FDV offence in Northern Territory courts in 2024–25. The most common principal offence was assault (60% or 3,272 defendants), and the majority of FDV defendants were male (82% or 4,477).

Almost all defendants who received a court judgement had a guilty outcome (98% or 4,704). Of these guilty defendants:

• 73% (3,443) were sentenced to custody in a correctional institution
• 13% (624) were sentenced to a moderate penalty in the community
• 6% (276) received a fully suspended sentence of imprisonment.

There were 849 defendants with at least one FDV offence in Australian Capital Territory courts in 2024–25. The most common principal offence was assault (59% or 499 defendants), and the majority of FDV defendants were male (77% or 656).

The majority of defendants who received a court judgement had a guilty outcome (74% or 510). Of these guilty defendants:

• 43% (217) were sentenced to good behaviour
• 27% (138) were sentenced to custody in a correctional institution
• 13% (65) received a fully suspended sentence of imprisonment.

In 2024–25, there were 59,169 defendants in court for an FDV-related breach of violence restraining order.

The majority of these defendants were male (83% or 48,821) and the median age was 36.4 years.

Almost all defendants who received a court judgement had a guilty outcome (97% or 50,852). Of these guilty defendants:

• 29% (14,685) received a fine
• 25% (12,546) were sentenced to custody in a correctional institution
• 16% (8,155) were sentenced to a moderate penalty in the community.

This release previously used catalogue number 4513.0.