Data Loading...
Analytical Services Group Flipbook PDF
Analytical Services Group Court Prosecutions, Convictions and Out of Court Disposals Statistics for Northern Ireland, 20
115 Views
108 Downloads
FLIP PDF 735.28KB
Analytical Services Group
Court Prosecutions, Convictions and Out of Court Disposals Statistics for Northern Ireland, 2014 Research and Statistical Bulletin 3/2015 I Graham and I Damkat July 2015
Produced by Analytical Services Group, Department of Justice. For further information write to: Analytical Services Group, Laganside House, Oxford Street, Belfast BT1 3LA Telephone: 028 9072 4530
Email: [email protected] This bulletin is available on the Internet at: www.dojni.gov.uk
KEY FINDINGS PROSECUTIONS AND CONVICTIONS The number of prosecutions disposed at Crown Court fell 19.2% from 2,553 in 2013 to 2,063 in 2014, reversing the upward trend seen in recent years. The number of prosecutions at magistrates’ courts fell from 32,086 in 2013 to 29,417 in 2014, a fall of 8.3%.
In 2014, 84.5% (26,607) of prosecutions in all courts resulted in a conviction. This compares with 2013 when 83.2% (28,831) of prosecutions in all courts resulted in a conviction.
The majority, 83.2% (26,207), of prosecutions completed at all courts in 2014, were cases where the defendant was male. In Crown Court, 90.8% (1,873) of prosecutions were against males. In magistrates’ courts, 82.7% (24,334) were against males.
Persons in the 18 – 24 year old age band were most likely to have prosecutions against them in court in 2014. They made up 26.6% (8,388) of all prosecutions at courts in Northern Ireland and 26.7% (7,104) of those convicted at all courts in 2014.
Most prosecutions completed in all courts over the period were for motoring offences: 12,875 (40.9% of all prosecutions) in 2014. Of all offence categories, drugs offences had the highest conviction rate at all courts, at 92.7% (1,718).
OUT OF COURT DISPOSALS A total of 3,728 penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) were issued in 2014; 77.1% of which were to males. Most PNDs were issued for public order offences, with 36.2% (1,350) of all PNDs issued being for offences in that category.
The number of out of court, diversionary disposals recorded against individuals’ criminal records in 2014 was 6,495, a fall of 16.2% from 7,752 in 2013. Most diversionary disposals were dealt with by way of caution, with 77.9% (5,060) of all diversionary disposals dealt with in this way.
Of all those who received a diversionary disposal in 2014, most were in the younger age categories, with 55.5% (3,602) of all diversionary disposals handed out to the under 25 year old age group.
In 2014, 75.6% (4,908) of all diversionary disposals were handed down to males.
Of all diversionary disposals, 19.1% (1,243) were handed down for violence against the person offences and a further 18.8% (1,223) were for drug offences.
CONTENTS Introduction: Counting Rules: Main findings: Appendix 1 – Tables:
Page 1 Page 1 Page 3 Page 13
FIGURES Figure 1: Figure 2: Figure 3: Figure 4: Figure 5: Figure 6: Figure 7: Figure 8: Figure 9:
Prosecutions and convictions at all courts, 2010 - 2014 Prosecutions and convictions at courts by court type and gender of defendant, 2014 Number of prosecutions at court by age group of defendant and court type, 2014 Proportion of convictions at court by court type and age of defendant, 2014 Cases disposed by offence category in all courts, 2014 Percentage convictions in Crown Court by offence category, 2014 Percentage convictions in magistrates’ courts by offence category, 2014 Percentage convictions at court by disposal type and court type, 2014 Out of court disposals by type, 2010 - 2014
INDEX OF TABLES Table 1: Table 2: Table 3a: Table 3b: Table 3c: Table 4: Table 5a: Table 5b: Table 6a: Table 6b: Table 6c: Table 7: Table 8a Table 8b
Prosecutions and convictions in courts in Northern Ireland by court type, 2010 - 2014 Prosecutions and convictions in courts in Northern Ireland by gender of defendant, 2014 Prosecutions and convictions at Crown Court by age band of defendant, 2014 Prosecutions and convictions at magistrates’ courts by age band of defendant, 2014 Prosecutions and convictions at all courts by age band of defendant, 2014 Prosecutions and convictions at courts by offence classification and court type, 2014 Number and percentage of convictions by sentencing disposal and court type, 2014 Number and percentage of custodial sentences by sentencing disposal and court type, 2014 Disposals at Crown Court by offence classification, 2014 Disposals at magistrates’ courts by offence classification, 2014 Disposals in all courts by offence classification, 2014 Out of court disposals by type, 2010 – 2014 Penalty Notices for Disorder issued by gender of recipient, 2014 Penalty Notices for Disorder issued by age band of recipient, 2014
Table 8c Table 9a: Table 9b: Table 9c:
Penalty Notices for Disorder issued by offence classification, 2014 Diversionary disposals by gender of offender, 2010 - 2014 Diversionary disposals by age band of offender, 2010 – 2014 Diversionary disposals by type and offence classification, 2014
INTRODUCTION This bulletin presents data on the number of prosecutions and convictions for magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court in Northern Ireland for the year 2014. Data for the youth court, a special magistrates’ court which deals with proceedings against juveniles between the ages of 10 and 17, are included with those for magistrates’ courts. Data on those offenders who were dealt with outside the courts, by way of diversionary disposal, i.e., those who receive a caution, informed warning, a youth conference plan or are subject to the community based restorative justice scheme, or by issue of a penalty notice for disorder (PND) during this time period are also included. Some detail on the structure of the known offending population in 2014, with information on the breakdown of offences committed and the disposals received is also included.
COUNTING RULES What counts as a prosecution/conviction/diversionary disposal? The data included in the bulletin are based on those for whom court proceedings were completed, or who had an out of court disposal recorded in Northern Ireland during the year 2014. The bulletin counts criminal proceedings brought to court by the Public Prosecution Service on behalf of the PSNI or Harbour Police in Northern Ireland and breaches of community sentences brought by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. The numbers of prosecutions completed are split into those where a conviction followed and those which did not result in a guilty finding. Prosecutions brought by government departments, other public bodies and private individuals are not included. For the purposes of this bulletin, out of court disposals are broken into two categories, distinguishing those which result in a criminal record (diversionary disposals) from those which do not (Penalty Notices for Disorder). Diversionary disposals are those instances where an offender is subject to a caution, informed warning, a youth conference plan, or is subject to the community based restorative justice scheme. The purposes of a diversionary disposal are: (i) to offer a proportionate response to low level offending where the offender has admitted the offence, (ii) to deliver swift, simple and effective justice that carries a deterrent effect; (iii) to record an individual’s criminal conduct for possible reference in future criminal proceedings or in criminal record or other similar checks; (iv) to reduce the likelihood of reoffending; and (v) to increase the amount of time the police have to spend dealing with more serious crime by reducing the amount of time police officers spend completing paperwork and attending court (in addition to simultaneously reducing the burden on courts themselves). Penalty Notices for disorder (PNDs) are a fixed penalty designed to tackle low-level, anti-social and nuisance offending for offenders aged 18 and over and are issued for a range of minor offences. They were introduced in Northern Ireland on the 6th June 2012 as a result of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. PNDs provide police with a swift financial punishment to deal with misbehaviour and a practical deterrent to 1
future re-offending. Further information on PNDs can be accessed at http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/police-issued-penalty-notices .
What counts as an offence? Where an offender has had an out of court disposal imposed or been convicted of several offences on the same occasion, only one offence, the principal offence, is counted. The basis for selection of the principal offence is laid down in rules issued by the Home Office and the Department of Justice has developed a methodology applicable to Northern Ireland based on these. In summary, where there is a disposal, the offence which receives the most severe penalty is counted. Other factors which may be considered in selection of the principal offence are the potential sentence that may be imposed in relation to an offence and the perceived seriousness of an offence. Principal offence methodology may be viewed on the DOJ website.at the following web link: http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/statisticsresearch.htm. For cases brought before a court, the offence counted and used in the compilation of figures in this bulletin is the one on which the court took its final decision. For diversionary disposals, the offence counted is the one recorded at the time the diversionary disposal was issued and, where applicable, subsequently recorded as completed with the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). In relation to convictions, the principal offence counted is normally the one that draws the most severe disposal at conviction. Offences for which a defendant is convicted are not necessarily the same as those for which the defendant was initially proceeded against, as charges may be amended during the course of a case. The decision recorded is that reached by the court and takes no account of any subsequent appeal to a higher court. Data source The data used in this bulletin were taken from the Causeway Data Sharing Mechanism (DSM1). They were extracted primarily based on records contained on the Criminal Records Viewer (CRV). The CRV is held on Causeway and utilises data which originated in the PSNI, PPS and from Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service. Causeway is an interconnected information system, launched as a joint undertaking by the Criminal Justice Organisations (CJOs) in Northern Ireland. Data quality and validation Although various validation exercises have been conducted in relation to both prosecutions data and diversions data, to ensure data quality, the statistics contained in this publication nevertheless still originate from various administrative data sources and caution should therefore be exercised when making comparisons with previous years. These data sources have different aims and objectives and are kept for nonstatistical purposes.
2
MAIN FINDINGS The findings detailed in this report are split into two main sections: the first deals with prosecutions and convictions at courts in Northern Ireland in 2014 and the second deals with out of court disposals issued over the same period. All commentary relates to tables listed in Appendix 1 to this document. Prosecutions and Convictions Overview The number of prosecutions disposed at all courts was 31,480 in 2014, down 9.1% from 34,639 in 2013. However, the number of prosecutions in magistrates’ courts in 2014 was 29,417, a fall of 8.3% from 32,086 in 2013, while the number of prosecutions in Crown Court in 2014 was 2,063, a decrease of 19.2% from the total of 2,553 in 2013. In 2014, 84.5% (26,607) of prosecutions in all courts resulted in a conviction, a conviction rate up slightly from the rate of 83.2% for 2013, and higher than that for the previous three years: 2010 (81.0%), 2011 (82.2%) and 2012 (83.4%).
Findings
Figure 1: Prosecutions and convictions at all courts, 2010 - 2014 45,000 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 -
No conviction Conviction
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Year
At 84.6% (1,745), the conviction rate for cases disposed at Crown Court was higher in 2014 than that for 2013 (81.5%), or indeed for any year since 2010, when the rate was 80.5%. In magistrates’ courts, 84.5% (24,862) cases disposed in 2014 resulted in a conviction. This again was higher than the rate for 2013 (83.4%) and higher than that observed in other recent years (Table1). Gender Males constituted the majority of people prosecuted in all courts in 2014. Of all those prosecuted, 83.2% (26,207) were male. In the Crown Court, the proportion of prosecutions brought where the defendant was male was slightly higher at 90.8%
3
(1,873), whereas, in magistrates’ courts, the proportion of prosecutions brought where the defendant was male was 82.7% (24,334). Prosecutions brought at all courts resulted in a conviction rate of 84.5% for both males and females in 2014. Similarly, in magistrates’ courts, the conviction rate for both males and females in 2014 was 84.5%. However, when the gender of the defendant was taken into account in relation to convictions in Crown Court in 2014, the conviction rate for males was 85.4%, compared to a rate of 76.1% for females. Figure 2: Prosecutions and convictions at courts by court type and gender of defendant, 2014
Number
25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 male
female
Crown Court
male
female
Magistrates' courts
male
female
All courts
Court Type Conviction
No conviction
In addition, a small number of prosecutions were classified as against ‘others’. This included transgender individuals, companies and other public bodies and those for whom no gender was recorded (Table 2). Age Group The age group of defendants for which the highest percentage of prosecutions were brought at all courts in 2014 was the 18 – 24 year old age group. In 2014, 26.6% (8,388) of prosecutions were against this age group. The same was true for prosecutions brought at Crown Court and in magistrates’ courts in 2014, with 25.8% (533) of prosecutions in the Crown Court, and 26.7% (7,855) of prosecutions in magistrates’ courts brought against defendants in this age group in that year. The age group of defendants for which the highest percentage of convictions were handed down at all courts in 2014 was similarly the 18 – 24 year old age group. In 2014, 26.7% (7,104) of convictions were handed down to defendants in this age group. Proportionately, defendants in the 18 – 24 year old age group accounted for 26.6% (465) of convictions in the Crown Court and 26.7% (6,639) of convictions in magistrates’ courts in 2014.
4
Prosecutions
Figure 3: Number of prosecutions at court by age group of defendant and court type, 2014 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0
Crown Court Magistrates' courts All courts
Age group
Figure 4: Proportion of convictions at court by court type and age of defendant, 2014 30% Prosecutions
25% 20% 15% Crown Court
10% 5%
Magistrates' courts
0%
All courts
Age group
Proportionally, a smaller percentage of prosecutions in Crown Court, 0.9% (18), were against defendants in the 10 – 17 age group in 2014, compared with those in magistrates’ courts, 5.2% (1,519). In 2014, the proportion of all convictions handed down in Crown Court to those in the 10 – 17 year old age group was 0.5% (9), whereas in magistrates’ courts 5.0% (1,250) all convictions were handed down to defendants in the 10 – 17 year old age group. The age group with the highest likelihood of conviction in relation to the number of prosecutions brought against a defendant in that group at Crown Court was the 30 – 39 year old group, with 89.2% (469) of prosecutions against a defendant in this age group resulting in a conviction, while, in magistrates’ courts, the age group with the highest likelihood of conviction in relation to the number of prosecutions brought against a defendant in that group was the 25 – 29 year old group, 85.7% (4,413) (Tables 3a, 3b and 3c).
5
Offence Classification Overall, in all courts, the largest proportion of cases disposed fell into the motoring offences category in 2014, comprising 40.9% (12,875) of all cases disposed at court in that year. Violence against the person (VAP) offences accounted for 15.6% (4,898) of cases disposed at all courts in 2014, while cases where the principal offence fell into the public order category made up 11.0% (3,452) of all cases disposed at court in 2014.
Offence category
Figure 5: Cases disposed by offence category in all courts, 2014
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
Prosecutions Violence Against the Person
Sexual
Robbery
Theft
Burglary
Criminal Damage
Drugs
Possession of Weapons
Public Order
Motoring
Fraud
Miscellaneous crimes against society
In all courts in 2014, prosecutions brought for drugs offences were most likely to end in conviction, with 92.7% (1,718) of cases in this category resulting in a conviction. Similarly, in cases where the principal offence was in the motoring offences category, 92.2% (11,868) resulted in a conviction. Cases where the principal offence was in the sexual offences category were least likely to result in a conviction in all courts in 2014, with 59.7% (185) of such cases resulting in a conviction. In the Crown Court, the largest proportion of cases disposed fell into the VAP offences category, comprising 23.9% (494) of all cases disposed in 2014, while cases where the principal offence at conviction fell into the drugs category made up 11.9% (245) of all cases disposed at court in that year. Possession of weapons offences were the offence category least likely to be disposed in Crown Court in 2014, with only 1.2% (25) of cases disposed at Crown Court in that year falling into that category. Similarly, relatively few cases in the motoring, fraud and criminal damage offences categories were disposed at Crown Court in 2014, with such cases making up 4.0% (82), 3.8% (79) and 2.3% (48) of the total cases disposed respectively.
6
In the Crown Court in 2014, prosecutions brought for theft offences were, proportionately, most likely to end in conviction, with 94.4% (101) of prosecutions brought for offences in this category resulting in a conviction. For cases which fell into the burglary offences category, 94.1% (160) resulted in a conviction and, for cases which fell into the motoring category, 92.7% (76) of cases disposed at Crown court in 2014 resulted in a conviction. However, as was the case for all courts, cases which fell into the sexual offences category were least likely to result in a conviction in 2014, when 63.1% (130) of such cases disposed at Crown Court resulted in a conviction.
% convictions
Figure 6: Percentage convictions in Crown Court by offence category, 2014 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Offence category
Overall, in magistrates’ courts, the largest proportion of prosecutions fell into the motoring offences category in 2014, comprising 43.5% (12,793) of all cases disposed at magistrates’ courts in that year. In magistrates’ courts in 2014, prosecutions brought for drugs offences were, proportionately, most likely to end in conviction, with 92.6% (1,490) of prosecutions brought for offences in this category resulting in a conviction. Similarly, 92.2% (11,792) of prosecutions for offences in the motoring offences category resulted in a conviction in magistrates’ courts in that year. Prosecutions for offences in the sexual offences category resulted in a conviction in 52.9% (55) of such cases disposed in magistrates’ courts in 2014 (Table 4).
7
% convictions
Figure 7: Percentage convictions in magistrates' courts by offence category, 2014 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Offence category
Court Disposals Monetary penalties were the most frequently utilised disposal at all courts in 2014, with 54.8% (14,572) of all convictions having this type of disposal as their primary outcome. A custodial outcome was imposed in 13.0% (3,446) of cases at all courts in 2014, with a suspended custodial outcome imposed in a further 16.0% (4,257) of cases. A community sentence was the primary disposal in 11.0% (2,915) of convictions in all courts in 2014. The type of penalty imposed as a result of conviction varied according to court type in 2014. In Crown Court, 53.1% (926) of disposals had a custodial element, whereas in magistrates’ courts 10.1% (2,520) of outcomes had a custodial element. Similarly, in Crown Court, 28.3% (494) of disposals had a suspended custodial element, whereas, in magistrates’ courts, 15.1% (3,763) of outcomes had a suspended custodial element. Conversely, in Crown Court, 3.7% (65) of disposals resulted in a monetary penalty as the primary outcome, whereas in magistrates’ courts 58.4% (14,507) of disposals resulted in a monetary penalty as the main disposal (Table 5a).
8
% convictions
Figure 8: Percentage convictions at court by disposal type and court type, 2014 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Crown Court Magistrates' courts
Disposal type
The Criminal Justice (NI) Order 2008 allowed for the introduction of three new sentence types within Northern Ireland: two public protection sentences – ‘indeterminate’ and ‘extended’ custodial sentences; and, a further sentence, ‘determinate’ custodial sentence. The number of convictions where a public protection sentence was handed down in 2014 was 46, 1.3% of all custodial sentences. The number of sentences which combined custody and community supervision elements excluding those released on licence conditions was 825, 23.9% of all custodial sentences handed down at all courts in 2014. Other custodial sentences were handed down in 74.7% (2,575) of cases at all courts in 2014 (Table 5b). In all courts, the offence category most likely to result in a custodial outcome was robbery, with 81.7% (239) of disposals for offences in this category resulting in this type of outcome in 2014. Conversely, a custodial outcome was least likely for offences in the motoring offences category, with only 2.0% (242) of convictions in all courts for offences in this category resulting in imprisonment. Motoring offences were most likely to be dealt with by way of monetary penalty, with 89.8% (10,653) of convictions at all courts for offences in this category receiving this outcome as their main disposal. Fraud offences were most likely to attract a suspended custodial sentence at all courts, with 42.6% (87) of convictions for offences in this category receiving such an outcome. A community sentence was the most likely disposal for convictions in the criminal damage offence category, with 29.5% (441) of convictions in this category resulting in such an outcome as their main disposal. In Crown Court, the offence category most likely to result in a custodial outcome was robbery, with 93.3% (70) of disposals for offences in this category resulting in a custodial outcome in 2014. Similarly, custodial sentences were handed down for 75.0% (120) of convictions where the principal offence was in the burglary category and for 75.0% (15) of convictions where the principal offence was in the possession of weapons offences category. Defendants convicted of fraud offences at Crown 9
Court were more likely to be dealt with by way of suspended sentence, with 51.4% (36) of convictions for offences in this category receiving this outcome as their main disposal in 2014. In magistrates’ courts, the offence category most likely to result in a custodial outcome was burglary, with 41.3% (119) of disposals for offences in this category resulting in a custodial outcome in 2014. Convictions for fraud offences were most likely to result in a suspended custodial sentence at magistrates’ courts, with 38.1% (51) of convictions where the principal offence was in that category being dealt with in that way. Motoring offences were most likely to be dealt with by way of monetary penalty as the main type of disposal, with 90.2% (10,641) of convictions at magistrates’ courts for offences in this category, receiving this outcome (Tables 6a, 6b and 6c). Out of Court Disposals Non-court disposals allow the police to deal quickly and proportionately with low-level - often first-time - offending which could more appropriately be resolved without a prosecution at court. In Northern Ireland, a range of options exist, such as cautionary disposals, informed warnings, completion of PPS ordered Youth Conferencing Plans and resolution through the Community Based Restorative Justice scheme. Additionally, PNDs were introduced in Northern Ireland on 6th June 2012 as a result of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. PNDs are a fixed penalty designed to tackle low-level, anti-social and nuisance offending for offenders aged 18 and over and are issued for a range of minor offences. Unlike other out of court disposals, acceptance of a PND does not result in a criminal record. The number of out of court disposals was 10,223 in 2014, a fall of 8.3% (923) from the 11,146 issued in 2013. However, while the numbers of cautions issued fell by 19.2% (1,205) and the number of informed warning issued fell by 21.2% (162), the number of PPS ordered Youth conferencing plans rose by 15.2% (110) and the number of PNDs issued rose by 9.8% (334) on 2013 totals. There were no relevant community based restorative justice scheme out of court disposals recorded in 2014 (Table 7).
10
Figure 9: Out of court disposals by type, 2010 - 2014
Diversionary disposals
12,000 Penalty Notices for Disorder
10,000 8,000
Informed warning
6,000 Community Based Restorative Justice scheme
4,000
PPS Ordered Youth Conference Plan
2,000 2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Caution
Year
Penalty Notices for Disorder Disposals In 2014, 3,728 PNDs were issued, an increase of 9.8% from the total (3,394) issued in 2013. Of these, 77.1% (2,875) were issued to males. Of all those who received a PND, 18 – 24 year olds made up 44.3% (1,650). PNDs were issued mainly for miscellaneous crimes, (36.8%, 1,373) and for public order offences, (36.2%, 1,350), although a significant proportion, (25.2%, 940), were also issued for theft offences in 2014 (Tables 8a, 8b and 8c). Other out of court (Diversionary) Disposals In 2014, the number of diversionary disposals issued which were recorded against individuals’ criminal records was 6,495, a fall of 16.2% from the figure of 7,752 such disposals issued in 2013. This fall from the totals recorded in the previous, and other recent years may, in part, have been influenced by the continued growth in the use of PNDs, were available, as an option for dealing with low-level offending. Cautions were the most common form of diversionary disposal, making up 77.9% (5,060) of all diversionary disposals in 2014. Informed warnings made up 12.8% (832) of disposals issued and youth conference plans made up the remaining 9.3% (603) of diversionary disposals in 2014. Most diversionary disposals were issued to males in 2014, when 75.6% (4,908) of all diversionary disposals were issued to males. This is a slightly smaller proportion than in 2013, when 76.1% (5,901) of all diversionary disposals were issued to males. Of all diversionary disposals issued in 2014, most were handed out to offenders under the age of 25, with 55.4% (3,602) of all diversionary disposals being received by persons in that age group. This is a slight decrease to the rate for 2013, when 57.9% of all diversionary disposals were issued to those under 25.
11
Of all offence categories, VAP and drugs offences were the categories for which most diversionary disposals were issued in 2014, with 19.1% (1,243) of all diversionary disposals issued for offences in the VAP category and 18.8% (1,223) of all diversionary disposals issued for offences in the drugs category. Motoring offences were the cause of 15.6% (1,016) of all diversionary disposals in 2014, whereas theft offences accounted for 11.7% (762) and public order offences accounted for 11.3% (731) of all diversionary disposals respectively (Tables 9a, 9b and 9c).
12
APPENDIX 1 - Tables
Table 1: Prosecutions and convictions in courts in Northern Ireland by court type, 2010 - 2014 2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
1,284 312 1,596 80.5%
1,494 345 1,839 81.2%
1,796 339 2,135 84.1%
2,080 473 2,553 81.5%
1,745 318 2,063 84.6%
30,785 7,231 38,016 81.0%
31,752 6,839 38,591 82.3%
29,670 5,909 35,579 83.4%
26,751 5,335 32,086 83.4%
24,862 4,555 29,417 84.5%
All courts Conviction 32,069 33,246 No conviction 7,543 7,184 Total findings 39,612 40,430 % convictions 81.0% 82.2% Note: 1. Magistrates’ courts figures include youth courts.
31,466 6,248 37,714 83.4%
28,831 5,808 34,639 83.2%
26,607 4,873 31,480 84.5%
Crown court Conviction No conviction Total findings % convictions Magistrates' courts Conviction No conviction Total findings % convictions
Table 2: Prosecutions and convictions in courts in Northern Ireland by gender of defendant, 2014 Male Female Other1 Number % of total Number % of total Number % of total
Total
Crown Court Conviction No conviction Total findings % convictions
1,600 273 1,873 85.4%
91.7% 85.8% 90.8%
143 45 188 76.1%
8.2% 14.2% 9.1%
2 2 100.0%
0.1% 0.0% 0.1%
1,745 318 2,063 84.6%
20,567 3,767 24,334 84.5%
82.7% 82.7% 82.7%
4,276 786 5,062 84.5%
17.2% 17.3% 17.2%
19 2 21 90.5%
0.1% 0.0% 0.1%
24,862 4,555 29,417 84.5%
Magistrates' courts Conviction No conviction Total findings % convictions All courts Conviction 22,167 83.3% 4,419 16.6% 21 0.1% 26,607 No conviction 4,040 82.9% 831 17.1% 2 0.0% 4,873 Total findings 26,207 83.2% 5,250 16.7% 23 0.1% 31,480 % convictions 84.6% 84.2% 91.3% 84.5% Note: 1. Includes sex not stated, transgender and other offenders, i.e. companies, public bodies, etc.
13
Table 3a: Prosecutions and convictions at Crown Court by age band of defendant, 2014
Age group 10 - 17 18 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59 60 & over Not known Total
Conviction No conviction Total findings Number % Number % Number % 9 0.5% 9 2.8% 18 0.9% 465 26.6% 68 21.4% 533 25.8% 355 20.3% 59 18.6% 414 20.1% 469 26.9% 57 17.9% 526 25.5% 219 12.6% 55 17.3% 274 13.3% 157 9.0% 43 13.5% 200 9.7% 70 4.0% 27 8.5% 97 4.7% 1 0.1% 0.0% 1 0.0% 1,745 100.0% 318 100.0% 2,063 100.0%
Table 3b: Prosecutions and convictions at magistrates' courts by age band of defendant, 2014
Age group 10 - 17 18 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59 60 & over Not known Total
Conviction No conviction Total findings Number % Number % Number % 1,250 5.0% 269 5.9% 1,519 5.2% 6,639 26.7% 1,216 26.7% 7,855 26.7% 4,413 17.7% 738 16.2% 5,151 17.5% 5,817 23.4% 976 21.4% 6,793 23.1% 3,880 15.6% 755 16.6% 4,635 15.8% 2,032 8.2% 404 8.9% 2,436 8.3% 745 3.0% 163 3.6% 908 3.1% 86 0.3% 34 0.7% 120 0.4% 24,862 100.0% 4,555 100.0% 29,417 100.0%
Table 3c: Prosecutions and convictions at all courts by age band of defendant, 2014
Age group 10 - 17 18 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59 60 & over Not known Total
Conviction No conviction Total findings Number % Number % Number % 1,259 4.7% 278 5.7% 1,537 4.9% 7,104 26.7% 1,284 26.3% 8,388 26.6% 4,768 17.9% 797 16.4% 5,565 17.7% 6,286 23.6% 1,033 21.2% 7,319 23.2% 4,099 15.4% 810 16.6% 4,909 15.6% 2,189 8.2% 447 9.2% 2,636 8.4% 815 3.1% 190 3.9% 1,005 3.2% 87 0.3% 34 0.7% 121 0.4% 26,607 100.0% 4,873 100.0% 31,480 100.0%
14
Table 4: Prosecutions and convictions at courts by offence classification and court type, 2014
Offence classification
Court Type Crown Court Magistrates' courts No % No % Conviction Conviction Conviction conviction conviction conviction conviction
All courts No conviction
% conviction
Violence Against the Person
385
109
77.9%
3,021
1,383
68.6%
3,406
1,492
69.5%
Sexual
130
76
63.1%
55
49
52.9%
185
125
59.7%
75
11
87.2%
18
11
62.1%
93
22
80.9%
Theft
101
6
94.4%
2,291
345
86.9%
2,392
351
87.2%
Burglary
160
10
94.1%
288
103
73.7%
448
113
79.9%
Robbery
Criminal Damage
43
5
89.6%
1,450
501
74.3%
1,493
506
74.7%
228
17
93.1%
1,490
119
92.6%
1,718
136
92.7%
20
5
80.0%
287
85
77.2%
307
90
77.3%
214
38
84.9%
2,604
596
81.4%
2,818
634
81.6%
Motoring
76
6
92.7%
11,792
1,001
92.2%
11,868
1,007
92.2%
Fraud
70
9
88.6%
134
33
80.2%
204
42
82.9%
243
26
90.3%
1,432
329
81.3%
1,675
355
82.5%
1,745
318
84.6%
24,862
4,555
84.5%
26,607
4,873
84.5%
Drugs Possession of Weapons Public Order
Miscellaneous crimes against society Total
15
Table 5a: Number and percentage of convictions by sentencing disposal and court type, 2014 Disposal type
Gender
Custodial
Male Female Other 1 Total Male Female Other 1 Total Male Female Other 1 Total Male Female Other 1 Total Male Female Other 1 Total Male Female Other 1 Total Male Female Other 1 Total Male Female Other 1 Total Male Female Other 1 Total Male Female Other 1 Total Male Female Other 1 Total Male Female Other 1 Total Male Female Other 1 Total Male Female Other 1 Total
Crown Court Number
Suspended Custodial
Attendance Centre
Combination Order
Probation Order/Supervision Order
Community Service Order
Youth Conference Order
Community Responsibility Order
Monetary Penalty
Bound Over
Conditional Discharge
Absolute Discharge
Other Disposal
Total
% convictions
896 30 926 428 65 1 494 8 8 35 5 40 101 17 118 47 10 57 5 5 55 10 65 12 6 1 19 8 8 5 5 1,600 143 2 1,745
56.0% 21.0% 0.0% 53.1% 26.8% 45.5% 50.0% 28.3% 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.5% 2.2% 3.5% 0.0% 2.3% 6.3% 11.9% 0.0% 6.8% 2.9% 7.0% 0.0% 3.3% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.4% 7.0% 0.0% 3.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.8% 4.2% 50.0% 1.1% 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.5% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.3% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Magistrates' courts Number
% convictions
2,303 217 2,520 3,239 524 3,763 190 15 205 748 206 1 955 791 94 885 539 53 592 27 23 50 11,675 2,814 18 14,507 129 35 164 744 214 958 49 16 65 133 65 198 20,567 4,276 19 24,862
Note: 1. Includes sex not stated, transgender and other offenders, i.e. companies, public bodies, etc.
16
11.2% 5.1% 0.0% 10.1% 15.7% 12.3% 0.0% 15.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.9% 0.4% 0.0% 0.8% 3.6% 4.8% 5.3% 3.8% 3.8% 2.2% 0.0% 3.6% 2.6% 1.2% 0.0% 2.4% 0.1% 0.5% 0.0% 0.2% 56.8% 65.8% 94.7% 58.4% 0.6% 0.8% 0.0% 0.7% 3.6% 5.0% 0.0% 3.9% 0.2% 0.4% 0.0% 0.3% 0.6% 1.5% 0.0% 0.8% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
All courts Number 3,199 247 3,446 3,667 589 1 4,257 8 8 225 20 245 849 223 1 1,073 838 104 942 544 53 597 27 23 50 11,730 2,824 18 14,572 129 35 164 756 220 1 977 57 16 73 138 65 203 22,167 4,419 21 26,607
% convictions 14.4% 5.6% 0.0% 13.0% 16.5% 13.3% 4.8% 16.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.0% 0.5% 0.0% 0.9% 3.8% 5.0% 4.8% 4.0% 3.8% 2.4% 0.0% 3.5% 2.5% 1.2% 0.0% 2.2% 0.1% 0.5% 0.0% 0.2% 52.9% 63.9% 85.7% 54.8% 0.6% 0.8% 0.0% 0.6% 3.4% 5.0% 4.8% 3.7% 0.3% 0.4% 0.0% 0.3% 0.6% 1.5% 0.0% 0.8% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Table 5b: Number and Percentage of custodial sentences by sentencing disposal and court type, 2014
Disposal
Court Type
Number
% custodial sentences
Public Protection Sentences Crown Court Magistrates' courts All courts Crown Court Indeterminate Custodial Magistrates' courts Sentence All courts Crown Court Extended Custodial Sentence Magistrates' courts All courts Prison with a community supervision element Crown Court Determinate Custodial Magistrates' courts Sentence All courts Crown Court Custody Probation Orders Magistrates' courts All courts Crown Court Juvenile justice order Magistrates' courts All courts Custody Crown Court Imprisonment Magistrates' courts All courts Crown Court Young offender centre Magistrates' courts All courts Crown Court Total Custodial Magistrates' courts All courts Life licences
17
7 7 4 2 6 32 1 33
0.8% 0.0% 0.2% 0.4% 0.1% 0.2% 3.5% 0.0% 1.0%
633 4 637 27 27
68.4% 0.2% 18.5% 2.9% 0.0% 0.8%
2 159 161
0.2% 6.3% 4.7%
221 2,001 2,222 353 353 926 2,520 3,446
23.9% 79.4% 64.5% 0.0% 14.0% 10.2% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Table 6a: Disposals at Crown Court by offence classification, 2014 Number of convictions Crime category Violence against the Person
Imprisonment
Suspended custodial
Community sentence
Monetary Penalty
Discharge
Other
Total
173
119
71
12
7
3
385
Sexual Offences
92
23
13
1
-
1
130
Robbery
70
3
2
-
-
-
75
Theft Burglary Criminal Damage Drugs Offences Possession of Weapons
49
35
11
5
1
-
101
120
17
17
3
3
-
160
22
11
8
2
-
-
43
116
73
34
3
2
-
228
-
20
1
214
15
4
-
1
-
114
62
16
14
7
Motoring
45
12
7
12
-
-
76
Fraud
24
36
5
3
2
-
70
Public Order Offences
Miscellaneous crimes against society Total
86
99
44
9
5
-
926
494
228
65
27
5
243 1,745
Percentage of convictions Crime category
Imprisonment
Suspended custodial
Community sentence
Monetary Penalty
Discharge
Other
Total
Violence against the Person
44.9%
30.9%
18.4%
3.1%
1.8%
0.8%
100.0%
Sexual Offences
70.8%
17.7%
10.0%
0.8%
0.0%
0.8%
100.0%
Robbery
93.3%
4.0%
2.7%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
100.0%
Theft
48.5%
34.7%
10.9%
5.0%
1.0%
0.0%
100.0%
Burglary
75.0%
10.6%
10.6%
1.9%
1.9%
0.0%
100.0%
Criminal Damage
51.2%
25.6%
18.6%
4.7%
0.0%
0.0%
100.0%
Drugs Offences
50.9%
32.0%
14.9%
1.3%
0.9%
0.0%
100.0%
Possession of Weapons
75.0%
20.0%
0.0%
5.0%
0.0%
0.0%
100.0%
Public Order Offences
53.3%
29.0%
7.5%
6.5%
3.3%
0.5%
100.0%
Motoring
59.2%
15.8%
9.2%
15.8%
0.0%
0.0%
100.0%
Fraud
34.3%
51.4%
7.1%
4.3%
2.9%
0.0%
100.0%
Miscellaneous crimes against society
35.4%
40.7%
18.1%
3.7%
2.1%
0.0%
100.0%
Total 53.1% 1 Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
28.3%
13.1%
3.7%
1.5%
0.3%
100.0%
18
Table 6b: Disposals at magistrates' courts by offence classification, 2014 Number of convictions Crime category Violence against the Person
Imprisonment
Suspended custodial
Community sentence
Monetary Penalty
Discharge
Other
Total
569
935
665
604
181
67
3,021
Sexual Offences
7
9
28
9
1
1
55
Robbery
6
2
10
-
Theft
514
642
462
499
8
2,291
Burglary
119
78
60
16
14
1
288
Criminal Damage
336
311
433
246
100
24
1,450
Drugs Offences
122
208
197
863
98
2
1,490
68
82
59
44
27
7
287
Public Order Offences
382
621
322
958
258
63
2,604
Motoring
197
529
213
10,641
45
167
11,792
19
51
29
26
9
-
181
295
209
601
124
22
1,432
2,520
3,763
2,687
14,507
1,023
362
24,862
Possession of Weapons
Fraud Miscellaneous crimes against society Total
-
-
166
18
134
Percentage of convictions Crime category
Imprisonment
Suspended custodial
Community sentence
Monetary Penalty
Discharge
Other
Total
Violence against the Person
18.8%
31.0%
22.0%
20.0%
6.0%
2.2%
100.0%
Sexual Offences
12.7%
16.4%
50.9%
16.4%
1.8%
1.8%
100.0%
Robbery
33.3%
11.1%
55.6%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
100.0%
Theft
22.4%
28.0%
20.2%
21.8%
7.2%
0.3%
100.0%
Burglary
41.3%
27.1%
20.8%
5.6%
4.9%
0.3%
100.0%
Criminal Damage
23.2%
21.4%
29.9%
17.0%
6.9%
1.7%
100.0%
8.2%
14.0%
13.2%
57.9%
6.6%
0.1%
100.0%
Possession of Weapons
23.7%
28.6%
20.6%
15.3%
9.4%
2.4%
100.0%
Public Order Offences
14.7%
23.8%
12.4%
36.8%
9.9%
2.4%
100.0%
1.7%
4.5%
1.8%
90.2%
0.4%
1.4%
100.0%
Fraud
14.2%
38.1%
21.6%
19.4%
6.7%
0.0%
100.0%
Miscellaneous crimes against society
12.6%
20.6%
14.6%
42.0%
8.7%
1.5%
100.0%
Total 10.1% 1 Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
15.1%
10.8%
58.4%
4.1%
1.5%
100.0%
Drugs Offences
Motoring
19
Table 6c: Disposals in all courts by offence classification, 2014 Number of convictions Crime category Violence against the Person
Imprisonment
Suspended custodial
Community sentence
Monetary Penalty
Discharge
Other
Total
742
1,054
736
616
188
70
3,406
Sexual Offences
99
32
41
10
1
2
185
Robbery
76
5
12
-
-
-
Theft
563
677
473
504
167
8
Burglary
239
95
77
19
17
1
448
Criminal Damage
358
322
441
248
100
24
1,493
Drugs Offences
238
281
231
866
100
2
1,718
83
86
59
45
27
7
307
Public Order Offences
496
683
338
972
265
64
2,818
Motoring
242
541
220
10,653
45
167
11,868
43
87
34
29
11
-
Possession of Weapons
Fraud Miscellaneous crimes against society Total
93 2,392
204
267
394
253
610
129
22
1,675
3,446
4,257
2,915
14,572
1,050
367
26,607
Percentage of convictions Crime category
Imprisonment
Suspended custodial
Community sentence
Monetary Penalty
Discharge
Other
Total
Violence against the Person
21.8%
30.9%
21.6%
18.1%
5.5%
2.1%
100.0%
Sexual Offences
53.5%
17.3%
22.2%
5.4%
0.5%
1.1%
100.0%
Robbery
81.7%
5.4%
12.9%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
100.0%
Theft
23.5%
28.3%
19.8%
21.1%
7.0%
0.3%
100.0%
Burglary
53.3%
21.2%
17.2%
4.2%
3.8%
0.2%
100.0%
Criminal Damage
24.0%
21.6%
29.5%
16.6%
6.7%
1.6%
100.0%
Drugs Offences
13.9%
16.4%
13.4%
50.4%
5.8%
0.1%
100.0%
Possession of Weapons
27.0%
28.0%
19.2%
14.7%
8.8%
2.3%
100.0%
Public Order Offences
17.6%
24.2%
12.0%
34.5%
9.4%
2.3%
100.0%
2.0%
4.6%
1.9%
89.8%
0.4%
1.4%
100.0%
Fraud
21.1%
42.6%
16.7%
14.2%
5.4%
0.0%
100.0%
Miscellaneous crimes against society
15.9%
23.5%
15.1%
36.4%
7.7%
1.3%
100.0%
Total 13.0% 1 Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
16.0%
11.0%
54.8%
3.9%
1.4%
100.0%
Motoring
20
Table 7: Out of court disposals by type, 2010 - 2014 2010 2011 2012 Disposal type Number Number Number Caution 7,749 7,573 7,209 PPS Ordered Youth Conference Plan 640 927 999 Community Based Restorative Justice scheme 1 1 6 Informed warning 1,657 1,096 929 Penalty Notices for Disorder N/A N/A 1,136 Total 10,047 9,597 10,279 Note: 1. Penalty Notices for Disorder were introduced in Northern Ireland on 6th June 2012.
Table 8a: Penalty Notices for Disorder issued by gender of recipient, 2014 Gender Male Female Not known/other Total
Number 2,875 852 1 3,728
% total 77.1% 22.9% 0.0% 100.0%
Table 8b: Penalty Notices for Disorder issued by age band of recipient, 2014 Offender age 10 - 17 18 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59 60 & over Not known Total
Number 2 1,650 675 661 400 218 108 14 3,728
% total 0.1% 44.3% 18.1% 17.7% 10.7% 5.8% 2.9% 0.4% 100.0%
Table 8c: Penalty Notices for Disorder issued by offence classification, 2014 Offence classification Violence Against the Person Sexual Robbery Theft Burglary Criminal Damage Drugs Possession of Weapons Public Order Motoring Fraud Miscellaneous crimes against society Total
Number 940 65 1,350 -
% total 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 25.2% 0.0% 1.7% 0.0% 0.0% 36.2% 0.0% 0.0%
1,373
36.8%
3,728
100.0%
21
2013 Number 6,265 722 765 3,394 11,146
2014 Number % total 5,060 49.5% 832 8.1% 0.0% 603 5.9% 3,728 36.5% 10,223 100.0%
Table 9a: Diversionary disposals by gender of offender, 2010 - 2014
Gender Male Female Not known/other Total
2010 Number 7,487 2,547 13 10,047
2011 Number 7,297 2,285 15 9,597
2012 Number 6,957 2,173 13 9,143
2013 Number 5,901 1,851 7,752
2014 Number % total 4,908 75.6% 1,584 24.4% 3 0.0% 6,495 100.0%
Table 9b: Diversionary disposals by age band of offender, 2010 - 2014
Offender age 10 - 17 18 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59 60 & over Not known Total
2010 Number 2,842 3,384 972 1,170 840 461 359 19 10,047
2011 Number 2,516 3,322 1,002 1,130 794 473 332 28 9,597
2012 Number 2,292 2,967 1,079 1,164 876 434 300 31 9,143
2012 Number 1,937 2,554 829 926 765 420 298 23 7,752
2014 Number % total 1,614 24.8% 1,988 30.6% 727 11.2% 837 12.9% 704 10.8% 369 5.7% 241 3.7% 15 0.2% 6,495 100.0%
Table 9c: Diversionary disposals issued by type and offence classification, 2014 Disposal type Offence classification Violence Against the Person Sexual Robbery Theft Burglary Criminal Damage Drugs Possession of Weapons Public Order Motoring Fraud Miscellaneous crimes against society Total
Caution
PPS Ordered YCP
Informed warning
CBRJ
Total
% total diversions
915
89
-
239
1,243
19.1%
15 586 28 335 1,120
3 81 6 61 58
-
7 4 95 40 149 45
25 4 762 74 545 1,223
0.4% 0.1% 11.7% 1.1% 8.4% 18.8%
81
13
-
33
127
2.0%
541 885 47
94 68 1
-
96 63 1
731 1,016 49
11.3% 15.6% 0.8%
507
129
-
60
696
10.7%
5,060
603
-
832
6,495
100.0%
22
Analytical Services Group, Department of Justice Laganside House, Oxford Street, Belfast BT1 3LA Email: [email protected] Telephone: 028 9072 4530 www.dojni.gov.uk
23