Author: Snowball, Lucy
Title: Public Confidence in the New South Wales Criminal Justice System: 2012 update
Summary: Public confidence in the NSW criminal justice system has increased significantly over the last four years, according the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. This is one of the key findings to emerge from a survey of public confidence in the criminal justice system commissioned by the Bureau. The Bureau conducted a similar survey in 2008. Interviews were conducted with over 2,000 NSW residents aged 18 years and over. Survey sample quotas were set on the basis of age, sex and residential location to match, as closely as possible, the distribution of these characteristics in the NSW population. Respondents in both surveys were asked how confident they were that the criminal justice system: Is effective in bringing people who commit crimes to justice; Meets the needs of victims Respects the rights of people accused of committing a crime Treats people accused of crime fairly; Deals with cases promptly. With one exception , the percentage of respondents who said they were ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ confident that the NSW criminal justice system is achieving these objectives was significantly higher in 2012 than it had been in 2008. Public knowledge of the criminal justice system and confidence in sentencing also increased. To measure public knowledge about crime and justice respondents were asked: Whether property crime had increased, decreased or remained about the same over the last five years; What percentage of all crime recorded by police involves violence or the threat of violence? What percentage of persons charged with home burglary are convicted of the offence? What percentage of persons convicted of home burglary receive a prison sentence? The percentage of respondents who gave tolerably accurate answers to each of these questions was significantly higher in 2012 than it was in 2008. To measure public confidence in sentencing, the Bureau asked respondents whether the sentences handed down by courts are much too tough, a little too tough, about right, a little too lenient or much too lenient. In 2008, 25.5 per cent responded ‘about right’. The proportion giving this answer in 2012 rose to 31.4 per cent. There was a corresponding fall in the percentage of respondents who felt that sentences are ‘much too lenient’ (from 37.3% to 29.3%). Generally speaking, the public have higher levels of confidence in the capacity of police to bring offenders to justice, meet the needs of victims and deal with cases promptly. They have higher levels of confidence in the courts when it comes to respecting the rights of accused people and treating accused people fairly.
Details: Brisbane: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2012. 16p.
Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 165: Accessed February 8, 2013 at:
Year: 2012
Country: Australia
URL:
Shelf Number: 127549
Keywords:
Criminal Justice SystemPolice-Community RelationsPublic Attitudes (Australia)Public ConfidencePublic Opinion |
